Delhi riots: SC adjourns hearing of Umar Khalid’s bail plea for January 24

The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing of Umar Khalid’s bail plea in a case related to the North-East Delhi riots of February 2020 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P)A).

A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mittal Satish adjourned the hearing as senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khalid and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing Delhi police, sought adjournment.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal requested the adjournment, saying he is engaged in a Constitution bench hearing today and that a Delhi police adjournment was sought due to the unavailability of ASG Raju.

The bench was initially reluctant to adjourn the matter; however, after repeated persuasions by Sibal and other parties, the apex court deferred the matter, saying no further adjournment will be granted.

The adjournment, sought by senior advocate Kapil Sibal representing Khalid and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju representing Delhi police, was granted, and the matter will now be heard on January 24. Initially hesitant to adjourn, the bench relented after Sibal’s explanation of his engagement in a Constitution bench hearing and the unavailability of ASG Raju.

The court emphasized that no further adjournments would be granted to avoid the impression of delay. Khalid challenges a Delhi High Court verdict denying him bail, asserting that certain UA(P)A provisions do not apply to his case. Arrested in September 2020, Khalid faces charges of criminal conspiracy, rioting, and unlawful assembly under UAPA.

The violence occurred during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), resulting in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries.