The Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict on January 5 on the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and other accused in the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the February 2020 Delhi riots.

A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N. V. Anjaria will deliver the ruling. The court had reserved its verdict on December 10 after hearing extensive arguments from both sides.

Arguments Before the Court

• For Delhi Police:
  Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju opposed bail, asserting that the riots were “orchestrated, pre-planned and well-designed”, amounting to an attack on India’s sovereignty.
  The prosecution argued that acts and speeches of one conspirator can be attributed to others, contending that Sharjeel Imam’s speeches could be used as evidence against Umar Khalid and other accused.
  It was also alleged that Khalid left Delhi deliberately before the riots to evade responsibility.
• For the Accused:
  Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Siddhartha Dave, Salman Khurshid, and Sidharth Luthraargued for bail.
  Imam, through counsel, expressed anguish at being labelled a “dangerous intellectual terrorist” without a full trial or any conviction. His defence stressed that he was arrested on January 28, 2020—before the riots—and that speeches alone do not constitute criminal conspiracy.

Charges and Background

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Shifa Ur Rehman are charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code, accused of being “masterminds” of the riots that killed 53 people and injured over 700.

The violence occurred amid protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The bail pleas before the Supreme Court challenge the Delhi High Court’s September 2 order denying bail in the “larger conspiracy” case. The January 5 verdict will be closely watched for its implications on prolonged incarceration under stringent anti-terror laws and the scope of conspiracy in riot-related prosecutions.