Delhi court grants interim bail to Umar Khalid for sister’s wedding, imposes restrictions

Delhi: Former JNU scholar and activist Umar Khalid, currently in custody in connection with the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots UAPA case, has been granted interim bail by a Delhi court to attend his sister’s wedding. Khalid had filed a bail application requesting permission to participate in the family event.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma court allowed interim bail from December 16 to December 29. The court directed Khalid to furnish a personal bond of Rs 20,000 along with two sureties of the same amount.

During the interim bail period, Khalid is subject to several restrictions. He is prohibited from contacting any witnesses or individuals related to the case. He must provide his mobile number to the investigating officer and keep it switched on and accessible for the duration of the bail.

Khalid is also barred from using social media and may only meet family members, relatives, and friends. He must remain either at the wedding venue or his residence throughout the bail period. He is required to surrender before the concerned jail superintendent on the evening of December 29.

This is not Khalid’s first interim bail request. Last year, he was granted seven days’ interim bail to attend his sister’s wedding in December. In October 2022, the Delhi High Court had rejected his regular bail plea, and although he approached the Supreme Court, he later withdrew his SLP. His second regular bail application in the trial court was also dismissed.

In September, a division bench of the Delhi High Court had observed that Khalid’s alleged role in the riots was significant, and that he had made provocative speeches based on communal grounds aimed at inciting members of the Muslim community.

The Supreme Court has also reserved its judgment on bail pleas filed by other accused, including Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and others. The Delhi Police Special Cell had registered FIR 59 under IPC and UAPA in connection with the 2020 riots, naming several accused including Tahir Hussain, Khalid Saifi, Safur Jarger, and Natasha Narwal.

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