Ananya Lohia , Delhi - A Delhi court has rejected the bail applications of student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai at the Karkardooma Courts.

Both Khalid and Imam had moved fresh bail applications last month, citing a change in circumstances. They relied on a recent judgment of the Supreme Court of India, delivered on May 18 by Justices B. V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, which granted bail to Syed Iftikhar Andrabi in a narco-terror case investigated by the National Investigation Agency.

The petitioners argued that the Supreme Court had reaffirmed that prolonged incarceration and delays in trial can outweigh the strict bail restrictions under Section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The apex court had also expressed reservations over an earlier ruling, saying it failed to properly apply the principles laid down in the landmark Union of India v. K.A. Najeeb (2021) verdict.

Despite these arguments, the Delhi court rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Both will remain in judicial custody as proceedings in the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 Delhi riots continue.