Umar Khalid's role grave, hurried trial harmful: Court on no bail in Delhi riots case

03-Sep-2025

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The Delhi High Court on September 2 refused to grant bail to former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, holding that their role in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case was prima facie "grave" and observing that a hurried trial would be "detrimental" to both the accused and the State.

The bench said the role assigned to Khalid and Imam by the prosecution "cannot be lightly brushed aside".

"A hurried trial would be detrimental to the rights of both appellants and the State," the bench observed, adding that the pace of proceedings would progress naturally. It emphasised that the trial was already at the stage of arguments on the framing of charges, which showed that the case was moving forward.

"The right to protest is not absolute," the bench said, warning that "an unfettered right to protest would damage the constitutional framework and impinge on law and order".

It further held that "conspiratorial violence under the garb of protests or demonstrations cannot be permitted," adding that such actions "must be regulated and checked by the State machinery" as they do not fall within the ambit of freedom of speech, expression, or association.

"The interest and safety of society at large, apart from the victims and their families, is also a factor" to be considered while adjudicating bail pleas, the court added.