Oppn questions denial of bail to Umar, Sharjeel

Opposition leaders Monday raised questions over the Supreme Court denying bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, while pointing out that rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been repeatedly granted parole.

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In a post on X, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M A Baby said the Supreme Court’s decision is shocking.

“The court's statement that ‘continued detention has not crossed constitutional impermissibility to override the statutory embargo as against them’ is a travesty of justice. Is languishing in jail for five years, without any possibility of trial starting, nota violation of the fundamental right to life and liberty?” he asked.

Baby said this ruling effectively enables the BJP governmeni’s “repressive tactics of targeting voices of dissent”.