Former Jawaharlal Nehru University student activist Umar Khalid’s bail application was heard by a Bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli of the Supreme Court on Thursday, May 18th.
The Bench issued a notice to the Delhi Police seeking its view on Umar Khalid’s bail petition and has posted the matter for further consideration after six weeks because of the summer vacation of the apex court.
While issuing a notice to the Delhi Police for its view on Khalid’s bail petition, the Bench granted him the liberty to approach a vacation bench in case of an urgent hearing. However, Khalid’s counsel Kapil Sibal told the Bench that they will wait for six weeks.
Khalid was arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020 and was charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly and several other sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He has been in prison since then.
The Delhi Police has alleged that Khalid has been one of the masterminds of the anti-Muslim pogrom in the capital city, which took place in February 2020 following a massive sit-in protest of Muslim women against a contentious citizenship law passed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
According to the Delhi Police, Umar Khalid and his clique instigated violence using provocative and communal speeches at the behest of “anti-national” powers. Therefore, the Delhi Police slapped UAPA on him, which cripples the scope of getting bail.
He had moved a bail petition in the Karkardooma court in March 2022, which was rejected. Then Khalid approached the Delhi High Court for bail, and there was an argument over his plea for 20 days, after which the court rejected his bail plea in October 2022.
After his bail petition was rejected by the Delhi High Court, Umar Khalid moved to the Supreme Court, which has been hearing the matter. Khalid’s counsel and supporters allege that he has been subject to political vendetta unleashed by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as he has been a vocal critic of its alleged communal policies.
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