A Karkardooma Court in Delhi has dismissed fresh bail applications from activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 riots conspiracy case. The court ruled that previous Supreme Court orders remain binding, extending the nearly six-year detention of both individuals.
What Happened
The Karkardooma Court in Delhi has rejected the latest bail applications filed by activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The two have been in custody for nearly six years in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai delivered the ruling, determining that the court is bound by the directions and orders previously issued by the Supreme Court. The legal teams for both individuals had sought release, arguing that despite the passage of time since the Supreme Court's last judgment, the trial proceedings have seen minimal progress, particularly regarding the formal framing of charges.
The Legal Arguments Presented
Representing Umar Khalid, Senior Advocate Trideep Pais argued that a recent Supreme Court judgment in the Andrabi case had cast doubt on the reasoning used in previous bail denials. The defense contended that earlier restrictions—which effectively placed an embargo on filing fresh bail pleas for one year or until the completion of witness examinations—should no longer stand in light of these developments. Similarly, Advocate Talib Mustafa, representing Sharjeel Imam, argued that the validity of the one-year ban on seeking bail requires further review by a larger bench of the Supreme Court. The defense highlighted that other co-accused in the same case had received relief through referrals to a larger bench.
The Prosecution’s Stance
Counsel for the Delhi Police maintained that the trial court lacks the authority to override or ignore the directions provided by the Supreme Court. The prosecution argued that all previous findings, directions, and the imposed embargoes on bail applications remain legally binding. They asserted that if the defense wished to challenge the validity of these restrictions, they would need to approach the Supreme Court directly rather than seeking a modification from the sessions court.
What To Watch Next
The primary focus for legal observers and those tracking the case will be whether the defense teams choose to appeal this decision before the Delhi High Court or approach the Supreme Court directly for further clarification. As the trial proceedings continue, the central issue remains the progress of the case, as the current bail status depends on the interplay between existing judicial embargoes and ongoing trial milestones.