Activist Umar Khalid has approached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court denied him bail related to the February 2020 riots. The high court rejected bail for nine individuals, including Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, emphasising that violent protests cannot be tolerated.
Activist Umar Khalid has petitioned the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court refused him bail in a case linked to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in the capital.
The high court on September 2 rejected bail pleas from nine accused, including Khalid and fellow activist Sharjeel Imam, ruling that violence “under the garb of protests” cannot be permitted. Others denied relief were Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima and Shadab Ahmed. A separate bench the same day also dismissed a plea from another accused, Tasleem Ahmed.
Imam and Fatima have already approached the top court challenging the order.
In its decision, the high court said citizens have the constitutional right to protest peacefully and speak in public, but stressed that these freedoms are subject to reasonable restrictions. Unchecked protests, the court observed, could “damage the constitutional framework” and threaten law and order.
Khalid, Imam and the others were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code for allegedly planning the riots, which killed 53 people and injured more than 700. The violence broke out amid demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens.