2020 Delhi Riots: Supreme Court to Hear Bail Pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam & Others on October 31
Supreme Court to hear bail petitions for Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others accused in the Delhi riots conspiracy case on October 31
The Supreme Court on Thursday fixed October 31 for hearing the long-pending bail pleas of student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Shifa-ur-Rehman, all accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) in the 2020 Delhi Riots larger conspiracy case.
The Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria took up the matter, during which Justice Kumar made sharp observations about the repeated delays, remarking that the accused have already spent an unreasonably long time behind bars.
“This is only for consideration of bail. See, five years have already been over,” Justice Kumar said, underscoring the urgency of hearing the matter without further adjournment.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the State, sought two weeks’ time to file a counter affidavit. The request was met with strong opposition from the defence.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Umar Khalid, protested, “Last time also this was said,” highlighting that the State had been repeatedly seeking adjournments.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing through video conference for Gulfisha Fatima, echoed the concern, saying, “When the matter is about delay, we should not delay it more.”
Justice Kumar reminded the parties that the Court had already committed to hearing the matter in October. “We made it clear in open court on previous occasions that we’ll hear the matter on October 27 and dispose it of,” he said.
When ASG Raju reiterated his request for time, Justice Kumar initially responded firmly, “No, argue tomorrow or day after.”
After some discussion, the Bench relented slightly and scheduled the hearing for Friday, October 31, asking the State to expedite preparations.
“Mr. Raju, see if something can be done,” Justice Kumar told the ASG, who replied, “Let me look into this.”
Sibal, responding in lighter vein, added, “Mr. Raju is very considerate of these matters.”
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.
Notably on July 9, 2025, the High Court had reserved its verdict after briefly hearing submissions from the prosecution as well as from counsels representing the accused persons, namely Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Athar Khan, Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Shadab.
Imam’s bail plea, had been rejected by ASJ Sameer Bajpai on February 11, 2022, observing that his speeches were intended to create “public disorder” and “incitement to violence” while also appearing to challenge the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India. The Apex Court had more recently refused to entertain Imam’s Article 32 petition, noting that he could not have approached the top court while his bail plea was pending before the High Court.
Previously, the Supreme Court had also refused to entertain an Article 32 petition filed by Fatima who had submitted before Court that she had been in jail for 4 years while her bail application has been pending for last 2 and a half years. As per the ASJ Amitabh Rawat's order of March 17, 2022 whereby it had rejected Gulfisha’s bail, Court had found that Gulfisha was present in North East Delhi at the time of the riots and as per witness statements, she was the one who started the blockade and prompted an attack on police personnel and others with weapons like dande, Lal-mirch powder and others in Jafrabad area which had a "cascading effect leading to riots".
Case Title: Gulfisha Fatima v. State of NCT of Delhi and connected matters
Hearing Date: September 27, 2025
Bench: Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria