SC begins hearing on bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam

The Supreme Court on Friday heard arguments on pleas of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider and Shifa Ur Rehman challenging the Delhi High Court order which denied them bail in the UAPA case linked to thealleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 northeast Delhiriots.

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Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Umar Khalid, told the top court that he was not even in Delhiwhen the riots took place. He said the prosecution has been delaying the trial and then blaming Khalid for the same.

Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing the Imam, argued that he did not make any calls for violence and was only exercising his right to peaceful protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

He said that he never made any calls for violence but only called for peaceful blockades.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Fatima, said that there was no evidence of any violence at the protest sites where she was present. He said there was an extraordinary delay in the trial, and Fatima has been in jail for over five years as an undertrial.

He said Fatima is the only woman accused currently in custody.