On Tuesday, a Delhi court dismissed the bail plea filed by former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) scholar Umar Khalid in connection with the Delhi riots conspiracy case. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Courts rejected Khalid’s plea. A detailed order is awaited.
Khalid approached the trial court after withdrawing his bail plea before the Supreme Court on February 14, 2024, citing a change in circumstances. A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal was scheduled to hear the matter on February 14, but Khalid’s counsel Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal informed the Court of the withdrawal of the bail plea.
“We wish to withdraw due to a change of circumstances and move the trial court for appropriate relief,” Sibal had stated.
Khalid was arrested in September 2020 and charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly, and several other offenses under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). He has been in jail since then.
The trial court initially denied bail to Khalid in March 2022. He then approached the High Court, which also denied him relief in October 2022, prompting him to file an appeal before the top court.
In May 2023, the Supreme Court sought the response of the Delhi Police in the matter. However, Khalid’s plea before the top court was adjourned 14 times.
