2020 Delhi Riots Case: Supreme Court Defers Bail Plea Hearing Of Tasleem Ahmed, Khalid Saifi
Supreme Court deferred the hearing on bail pleas filed by Delhi riots accused Tasleem Ahmed and Abdul Khalid Saifi after the prosecution said the matter would require time for arguments
Supreme Court granted interim bail to Tasleem Ahmed and Abdul Khalid Saifi while referring conflicting interpretations of UAPA bail law to a larger Bench
The Supreme Court on Monday deferred the hearing of bail pleas filed by Delhi riots accused Tasleem Ahmed and Abdul Khalid Saifi.
The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale briefly took up the matter during the day’s proceedings.
At the outset, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the prosecution, informed the Court that the matter would require some time for hearing. “This will take time,” ASG Raju submitted before the bench.
Justice Kumar then indicated that the matter could be taken up next Tuesday, i.e. May 19.
Senior Advocate Rebecca John, appearing for one of the accused, requested the Court to accommodate the hearing on Wednesday, i.e. May 20, instead. “I may be accommodated on Wednesday, as i have a time fixed matter on Tuesday,” she submitted.
Responding to the request, Justice Kumar remarked, “We will see. The other petitioner can argue on Tuesday”
The matter pertains to bail pleas filed by Tasleem Ahmed and Abdul Khalid Saifi in connection with cases arising out of the 2020 Delhi riots. Saifi, a former member of the civil society group United Against Hate, is among the accused booked under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the larger conspiracy case investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell.
What has happened so far:
In February the bench had issued notice on a plea filed by United Against Hate member Khalid Saifi, challenging the denial of bail by the Delhi High Court in a case alleging a larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots, involving charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The bench however had orally made it clear that Saifi cannot claim parity with the Supreme Court’s January 2026 judgment that granted bail to five co-accused in the same case.
Saifi had approached the apex court against the Delhi High Court’s September 2, 2025 order refusing him bail. In January, the Supreme Court granted bail to five accused, including Gulfisha Fatima, while rejecting bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Subsequently, the remaining accused, Tasleem Ahmed and now Khalid Saifi, move the Supreme Court. Notice had already been issued in Tasleem Ahmed’s petition, and Saifi’s plea was tagged with it. According to Saifi’s petition, he has spent nearly five years in custody and seeks bail on grounds of prolonged incarceration, claiming parity with those recently enlarged on bail by the Supreme Court.