Supreme Court seeks response from Delhi Police on student activist Umar Khalid's bail plea

Khalid was arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020 and charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, and unlawful assembly as well as under several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and has remained in jail since then.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice AS Bopanna and also comprising Justice Hima Kohli, issued notice to Delhi police and sought its reply on Khalid's bail plea.

Khalid had initially moved to the Karkardooma Court in March 2022, seeking bail, but it rejected his bail plea.

He had then moved the Delhi High Court challenging it, and it was also dismissed by the HC, in October 2022, forcing him to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court for relief.

Although the Supreme Court fixed the matter for further hearing after six weeks, it clarified that if the accused petitioner wanted liberty he could move the vacation bench for urgent hearing.

Khalid, a former researcher from JNU, is one of the accused in a larger conspiracy case relating to the 2020 North-East Delhi communal riots.

Khalid has been booked under Sections 13, 16, 17, and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.