Delhi Court denies bail to former JNU student Umar Khalid in Delhi riots case
India

Delhi Court denies bail to former JNU student Umar Khalid in Delhi riots case

Khalid has been in jail since 14 September 2020 and faces charges under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

   
Activist Umar Khalid | ANI File photo

File photo of Umar Khalid | ANI

New Delhi: Delhi’s Karkardooma Court Thursday rejected bail to former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid in the 2020 Northeast Delhi violence case.

The Delhi court had deferred the order Monday on Khalid’s bail plea in the case of a larger conspiracy in connection with the February 2020 riots. He has been in jail since 14 September 2020 and faces charges under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Earlier this month, Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat had reserved the order after hearing arguments from the counsel appearing for Khalid and the prosecution. Senior advocate Trideep Pais, appearing for Khalid, had then told the court that the prosecution lacked evidence to prove its case against him. Pais had also argued that the entire chargesheet “read like the script” of the Amazon Prime TV show The Family Man.

The Delhi Police had lodged a larger conspiracy case related to the Northeast Delhi riots, naming Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and others. Fifty three people had died and hundreds were injured during the 2020 riots as violence erupted during protests against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

(With inputs from agencies)


Also read: I have not spent a day or night in my cell without extreme anxiety: Umar Khalid from Tihar