New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday granted seven days interim bail to former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid, who is an accused in the conspiracy case related to the Feb 2020 riots in northeast Delhi. Khalid had applied for bail to attend a wedding in the family. He has been in jail since Sept 2020.
The court of additional sessions judge Sameer Bajpai, while granting bail, restrained Khalid from using social media, meeting anyone except his friends, relatives and family members, and visiting any place not mentioned in his petition. “The applicant (Khalid) wishes to attend the marriage of his first cousin and meet his relatives and the court deems it just and appropriate to grant him the desired relief,” the judge declared.
Khalid, 37, had pleaded for interim bail to be able to attend the wedding of his sister on Jan 1, 2025, and some pre-wedding ceremonies. He said that after post-event, he wanted to meet relatives, especially his sister who was coming from the United States.
According to Khalid’s plea, the reception for the wedding is scheduled in Nagpur, but he himself would not wish to leave Delhi. The court, directing him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 20,000 along with two sureties of similar amounts, imposed several conditions for bail, such as his not contacting any witness or person connected with the case and ensuring the investigating officer had access to his mobile number.
The court added, “During the interim bail period, the applicant shall not use social media. The applicant shall only meet his family members, relatives and friends. The applicant shall remain at home or the places where the ceremonies of the marriage, as mentioned by him, will take place,” the court said, directing him to surrender to the prison authorities on the evening of Jan 3.
Khalid is among the 20 people accused of conspiracy in the riots case. The others include Tahir Hussain, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Saleem Malik, Mohammad Saleem Khan, Athar Khan, Safoora Zargar, Sharjeel Imam, Faizan Khan and Natasha Narwal. Probed by Delhi Police’s special cell, the charges have been registered under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
In Sept last year, a Delhi court started day-to-day hearings on the charges to be framed against 18 individuals under UAPA for alleged conspiracy in the northeast Delhi riots. The court of special judge Amitabh Rawat has been designated to hear the case.
