Activists Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid have filed fresh bail applications before a Delhi court in connection with the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The petitions argue that there has been little progress in the trial despite more than six months having passed since the Supreme Court rejected their earlier bail pleas.

Court Seeks Delhi Police Response

The fresh applications were submitted before Additional Sessions Judge Sumedh Saini. The court has issued notices to the Delhi Police seeking its response and has scheduled the matter for hearing on July 4.

In his plea, Sharjeel Imam stated that he has remained in judicial custody for nearly six years and contended that no significant developments have taken place in the trial since the Supreme Court dismissed his bail petition on January 5.

Supreme Court's Earlier Observations

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court refused to grant bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam while extending relief to five co-accused. The apex court observed that a prima facie case existed against the two under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and noted that their alleged roles differed from those of the other accused.

The Supreme Court granted bail to activists Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad, holding that their cases stood on a different footing.

Allegations in the Conspiracy Case

Khalid, Imam, and several others have been charged under the UAPA and multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Investigators allege that they were among the key conspirators behind the violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020.

Background of the Riots

The riots took place amid protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). The violence claimed 53 lives and left more than 700 people injured, making it one of the deadliest episodes of civil unrest in the national capital in recent years

"Activists Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid have filed fresh bail applications before a Delhi court in connection with the larger conspiracy cas…"