The UAPA bail Delhi riots case moved swiftly this week as activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam filed fresh regular bail applications before the Karkardooma Sessions Court in Delhi.
According to LiveLaw, Vacation Judge and Additional Sessions Judge Dr. Sumedh Kumar Sethi issued notice on both applications and sought a response from the Delhi Police.
Background: UAPA Bail and the Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case
The 2020 North East Delhi riots left 53 people dead and over 700 injured, erupting during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens.
Delhi Police Special Cell registered FIR No. 59/2020, alleging that Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and several co-accused were part of a larger conspiracy behind the communal violence of February 2020.
- Sharjeel Imam was first arrested on January 28, 2020, from Jehanabad, Bihar, and subsequently arrested in the Delhi riots conspiracy case on August 25, 2020. He has now been in custody for nearly six years, according to LiveLaw and Bar & Bench.
- Umar Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020, in connection with the February 2020 Delhi riots. Both accused are charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, including Sections 13, 16, 17, and 18, as well as relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
- On January 5, 2026, a Supreme Court bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria refused bail to both Khalid and Imam, while granting bail to five co-accused: Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad, as reported by Newsonair/AIR.
A significant legal development followed on May 22, 2026, when the Supreme Court referred the broader question of bail under Section 43D(5) of UAPA to a larger bench to be constituted by the Chief Justice of India, as reported by Awaz The Voice.
The fresh bail pleas before the trial court are directly triggered by this referral. According to Bar & Bench, a coordinate bench of the Supreme Court questioned the interpretation adopted while denying bail to both accused, effectively signalling a potential shift in how UAPA bail is assessed.
What the Court Said
On June 9, 2026, ASJ Dr. Sumedh Kumar Sethi of the Karkardooma Courts issued notice on Umar Khalid’s fresh bail application and sought a response from the Delhi Police, according to LiveLaw.
Notice on Sharjeel Imam’s fresh bail plea was issued on June 13, 2026, per ANI and Awaz The Voice. Both matters have been listed for hearing on July 4, 2026, as confirmed by LiveLaw, Bar & Bench, ANI, and The Federal.
Advocate Ahmad Ibrahim filed the bail application for Sharjeel Imam, according to ANI.
Imam’s application contends that despite more than six months since the Supreme Court’s January 5, 2026 judgment, there has been no meaningful progress in the trial. As reported by Bar & Bench, arguments on charge before the trial court remain incomplete to this day.
The plea cites the Supreme Court’s own observation at paragraph 118 of the Gulfisha Fatima judgment: “no proximate progression to trial in the conventional sense.”
Umar Khalid’s plea argues that subsequent judicial developments constitute a “change in circumstances” that makes the fresh bail application maintainable, as reported by The Federal. The plea specifically invokes the Supreme Court’s May 2026 remarks that “bail is the rule” even under UAPA.
Both pleas draw on Supreme Court precedents including Union of India v. K.A. Najeeb and Vernon Gonsalves v. State of Maharashtra, grounding the right to bail in Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to personal liberty.
What It Means
This case raises a pressing constitutional question: can a Section 43D(5) UAPA bar on bail stand indefinitely when trial proceedings remain stalled for nearly six years?
The referral of the UAPA bail question to a larger Supreme Court bench could reshape how trial courts across India assess bail in terror and conspiracy cases under UAPA going forward.
Legal observers and civil liberties advocates are watching the July 4, 2026 hearing closely, as Delhi Police’s reply to the Karkardooma Court will set the tone for the next phase of litigation.
Read more at The Courtroom. Original report: Telangana Today.
Why did Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam file fresh bail pleas in 2026?
The fresh pleas were triggered after a coordinate bench of the Supreme Court questioned the interpretation used to deny bail to both accused. Additionally, on May 22, 2026, the Supreme Court referred the broader legal question on bail under Section 43D(5) of UAPA to a larger bench, creating a changed legal landscape that both accused cite as new grounds for bail, according to Bar & Bench and LawBeat.
What is the current status of the UAPA bail Delhi riots case?
As of June 13, 2026, the Karkardooma Sessions Court has issued notice on both bail applications and sought a reply from the Delhi Police. No bail has been granted at this stage. Both matters are listed for hearing on July 4, 2026, as confirmed by LiveLaw and ANI.
Which Supreme Court bench had earlier refused bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam?
A bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria refused bail to both Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam on January 5, 2026. The same order granted bail to five co-accused: Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad, as reported by Newsonair/AIR.
Final Thoughts on UAPA Bail in the Delhi Riots Case
With both Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam having spent nearly six years in custody under UAPA and trial arguments on charge still incomplete, the Karkardooma Court’s July 4, 2026 hearing will be a critical moment in one of India’s most watched criminal cases.
The Supreme Court’s referral of the Section 43D(5) UAPA bail standard to a larger bench adds further constitutional weight to what was already a landmark proceeding.
Stay updated at The Courtroom.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change or vary by case — consult a qualified lawyer before acting. The Courtroom is not liable for any reliance on this content.
