No Relief for Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam as Delhi Court Rejects Fresh Bail Pleas in UAPA Case

A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed the fresh regular bail applications filed by student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The duo had approached the Karkardooma trial court seeking release in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case linked to the alleged "larger conspiracy" behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi communal riots.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai rejected the pleas following a day of rapid legal arguments. The court had initially reserved its decision in the afternoon after hearing detailed submissions from both the defense and the prosecution, before pronouncing the final order dismissing the applications. After Mamdani, 8 US Lawmakers Pledge Support for Umar Khalid; Ask India to Grant Him 'fair Trial'.

The fresh bail push was built primarily on the grounds of prolonged incarceration. Counsels representing Khalid and Imam argued that their continued detention—spanning nearly six years without the formal commencement of a trial or the framing of charges—constituted a violation of their fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The defense team highlighted what they termed a "change in circumstances" following a separate Supreme Court ruling in May 2026. That apex court judgment had criticized strict anti-terror bail embargoes and reiterated that "bail is the rule, jail is the exception" when a trial faces indefinite delays. Khalid’s counsel emphasized that no violence was directly attributed to him and no incriminating recoveries had been made.

However, the Delhi Police Special Cell strongly opposed the applications, arguing that no material change in circumstances had occurred since the Supreme Court previously denied them bail on January 5, 2026. Special Public Prosecutor Madhukar Pandey argued that the trial court could not bypass the apex court's prior findings, which positioned both Khalid and Imam as central figures or "architects" of the conspiracy. Delhi Riots ‘Larger Conspiracy’ Case: Supreme Court to Deliver Verdict on Bail Pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam on January 5.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Denied Fresh Bail in UAPA Case

Delhi Riots larger Conspiracy case | Karkardooma Court rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.

They had approached the trial court for regular bail in UAPA case linked with the alleged larger Conspiracy of Delhi riots 2020.

— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2026

The prosecution further contended that because of their allegedly distinct, senior roles in orchestrating coordinated road blockades to destabilize the capital, the statutory bar to bail under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA applied to them with full rigor. The state also voiced concerns over witness safety if the accused were to be released before protected witnesses could be examined.

With the Karkardooma Court dismissing these fresh applications, both activists will remain in custody as undertrials. The legal battle is now expected to move back to the Delhi High Court on appeal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2026 04:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).