On December 2, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal on behalf of Umar Khalid, argued that at the current pace, Khalid would remain in prison for “eight years without trial”, noting that the prosecution alternates between predicting six months and two years for the trial’s completion. He emphasized repeated supplementary chargesheets and delay not attributable to the defence.
2020 Delhi Riots: Supreme Court Reserves Verdict on Bail Pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and Others
Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider and others after directing both sides to file consolidated compilations by December 18
By : Sukriti Mishra
Update: 2025-12-10 11:05 GMT
SC fixed a firm deadline, directing that all compilations must be submitted on or before December 18, so that the Court can take a decision during the winter break
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its judgment on the bail petitions filed by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider and several others booked under the UAPA in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case.
The matter was heard by the Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N. V. Anjaria.
After extensive arguments spread across multiple hearings, the Bench noted that both sides had relied on a large volume of material, including authorities, written submissions, synopses, charts, and detailed timelines.
The Court directed all counsel to streamline the record.
For the sake of convenience, the Bench ordered that every document referred to during the hearings must now be collated and filed as a single, comprehensive compilation. The direction applies equally to the prosecution and the accused.
When the bench asked how much time was needed for the exercise, ASG S. V. Raju requested ten days. The defence sought only two days. Justice Aravind Kumar fixed a firm deadline, directing that all compilations must be submitted on or before December 18, so that the court can take a decision during the winter break.
With submissions concluded and timelines set, the Court has now reserved its judgment.
On December 3, the Supreme Court had directed all counsel for the accused to submit the “erstwhile address” of each of the seven accused in writing.
Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi for Gulfisha Fatima questioned the Delhi Police’s assertion that the riots were part of a coordinated “regime change operation,” pointing out that “not a word of it appears in the chargesheet.”
Notably, on November 21, ASG Raju had strongly opposed the bail requests, asserting that the violence that rocked Northeast Delhi was not a peaceful protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act but part of a “well-planned conspiracy” to spark unrest and destabilise the government. On November 20, Raju had argued that the narrative of Imam and others being “educated scholars” unfairly targeted by the state was misleading, and that those who intellectually guide violence are “far more dangerous” than ground-level actors.
Earlier, Opposing the bail pleas, Solicitor General Mehta had launched a sharp attack on what he described as “myths” surrounding the riots. “This was not a spontaneous riot. It was a well-designed, well-crafted, well-orchestrated, pre-planned and well-choreographed riot,” he told the Bench, adding that the violence amounted to “an attack on the sovereignty of the nation.”
On November 3, the six UAPA accused, concluded their arguments before the Court in their pleas seeking bail.
All the five UAPA Accused have filed a Special Leave petition (SLP) before the Apex Court challenging the Delhi High Court's September 2, order denying bail to them.The High Court had held “violence in the name of protest is not free speech” as it dismissed the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and seven others.
The case stems from the violence that erupted in Northeast Delhi in 2020 during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The clashes between supporters and opponents of the Act led to large-scale incidents of stone-pelting, arson, and violence, leaving 53 people dead and injuring thousands.
Case Title: Gulfisha Fatima v. State of NCT of Delhi and connected matters
Hearing Date: December 10, 2025
Bench: Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria