Delhi Courts Weekly Round Up [July 27 - August 2, 2026]

1. [Prabal Pratap and Chander Bhan] A Delhi court has granted bail to two suspended law students arrested for allegedly disrupting proceedings inside the Supreme Court, observing that while their conduct deserved unequivocal condemnation, continued pre trial detention was not warranted once the investigation had been completed. Judicial Magistrate Ravi of Patiala House Court granted bail to Prabal Pratap Singh, a third year law student at Lucknow University, and Chander Bhan, a second year law student, in connection with an incident that allegedly took place during a hearing before the Supreme Court on July 10. According to the Delhi Police, Prabal Pratap, who was appearing as a petitioner in person in Special Leave Petition (Civil), Prabal Pratap and Another v. State of Uttar Pradesh through Commissioner, disrupted proceedings in Court No. 13 by using abusive and unparliamentary language, throwing papers inside the courtroom, creating a commotion and using criminal force against security personnel. Chander Bhan was also arrested in connection with the incident.

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2. [Malviya Nagar Hotel Fire] A Delhi court has granted bail to Kesar Negi, a cook arrested in connection with the Malviya Nagar hotel fire that claimed 22 lives, including 13 foreign nationals, earlier this month, observing that the prosecution had failed to establish any compelling need for his continued custodial detention. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Samar Vishal of the Saket Court allowed Negi's bail plea on Monday upon furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the like amount. Negi has been in custody since June 6. His earlier bail application had been rejected by a Judicial Magistrate on June 8. Granting relief, the Court observed: "Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, I am of the considered opinion that the prosecution has not been able to demonstrate any compelling necessity for the continued custodial detention of the applicant. The interests of justice can be adequately safeguarded by imposing appropriate conditions while enlarging him on bail." Appearing for Negi, Advocates Deepak Prakash and Priyamvada Singh Solanki submitted that the applicant is a senior citizen who is old and infirm. They also disputed the prosecution's version regarding the cause of the fire.

Case Title: State v. Keshar Negi

Bench: ASJ Samar Vishal

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3. [IB Officer Ankit Sharma Murder Case] A Delhi Court has sentenced former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain to life imprisonment for the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North East Delhi riots, while refusing the prosecution's plea for the death penalty. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Praveen Singh also awarded life imprisonment to four co-convicts in the case. Delhi Police had urged the Court to impose capital punishment, contending that the brutal killing fell within the "rarest of rare" category. However, the Court declined the request after holding that the case did not warrant the death penalty. While pronouncing the sentence, Judge Singh observed that the manner in which the offence was committed was "nauseating and sickening." At the same time, the Court held that the convicts could not be said to be beyond the possibility of reformation and rehabilitation. Accordingly, the Court sentenced Tahir Hussain and the four co-convicts to imprisonment for life for the murder of Ankit Sharma, whose body was recovered from a drain during the communal violence that erupted in North East Delhi in February 2020.

Bench: Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Praveen Singh

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4. [Shraddha Walkar Murder trial] The Delhi High Court has declined to issue any further directions for the time-bound conclusion of the trial in the sensational Shraddha Walkar murder case, observing that the trial court is already conducting proceedings on a day-to-day basis and making every effort to conclude the matter expeditiously. Justice Madhu Jain disposed of a petition filed by Shraddha Walkar's brother, who had sought a fixed timeline for completion of the trial, contending that the prolonged proceedings had prevented the family from performing her last rites as several of her recovered remains continue to be retained as case property. "No further directions are required to be passed at this stage when the trial is being conducted on a day to day basis. The petition is disposed of," the Court held. Plea sought fixed timeline for trial The petition urged the High Court to direct the trial court to conclude the proceedings within a specified timeframe and avoid unnecessary adjournments. It argued that despite the investigation having concluded, charges being framed in May 2023, and substantial progress in recording evidence, the trial has remained pending for over four years.

Case Title: Shrejay Vikas Walkar v. Aftab Amin Poonawala & Ors.

Bench: Justice Madhu Jain

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5. [Umar Khalid] The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the response of the Delhi Police on a fresh bail plea filed by activist Umar Khalid in the alleged "larger conspiracy" case linked to the February 2020 North East Delhi riots, which is being investigated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan issued notice to the Delhi Police and directed it to file its reply within two weeks. During the hearing, counsel appearing for Khalid submitted that this was his third bail application since his arrest in September 2020. The counsel also sought interim bail on his behalf. The Bench observed that Khalid's plea would be heard on August 27, the date already fixed for hearing the bail appeal of co-accused Sharjeel Imam, whose application had also been rejected by the trial court. Appearing for the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju submitted that both Khalid's and Imam's bail applications had been dismissed by the same trial court order and, therefore, could appropriately be heard together. Khalid has challenged the July 4 order of the trial court refusing him bail in the case.

Case Title: Umar Khalid v. State

Bench: Justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan

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6. [Sandeep Lamba] The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition seeking the removal of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East) Sandeep Lamba from supervising a court-directed police inquiry, holding that allegations against a police officer, by themselves, cannot justify a presumption of bias without due process. Justice Girish Kathpalia observed that while any proven misconduct by the officer must be dealt with in accordance with law, it would be inappropriate for the court to treat him as guilty before a fair trial. "You have to be fair. Stop discrediting the institution. Whatever that gentleman has done, he should face consequences. But that doesn't mean you take away from his supervision the entire work," the Court orally remarked. The petition was filed after videos purportedly showing Lamba slapping a woman during the recent Jantar Mantar protest surfaced online. The petitioner argued that the incident created a reasonable apprehension of bias in a police inquiry being conducted under Lamba's administrative supervision. Questioning the basis of the plea, Justice Kathpalia observed, "Entire Delhi Police today is in the dock? Then should they stop registering FIRs?"

Bench: Justice Girish Kathpalia

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7. [Delhi Gymkhana eviction row] The Delhi High Court has declined adjourned the ongoing Delhi Gymkhana Club matter for hearing on September 3, directing that pleadings be completed expeditiously after being informed that the counter affidavit had been filed only late last night. Justice Avneesh Jhingan was informed by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing in the matter, that the counter affidavit had been filed late on Monday night. Taking note of the submission, the Court deferred the proceedings. The Court directed all parties to complete their pleadings without delay and listed the matter for further hearing on September 3. The Bench also ordered that the existing protection and assurance operating in the connected proceedings would continue until the next date of hearing. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for one of the petitioner and Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma appeared for the Central Government.

Case Title: Vijay Khurana v. Union of India and connected matters

Bench: Justice Avneesh Jhingan

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