Television actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee recently slammed people who are supporting JNU student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam after their bail plea was rejected by the Supreme Court in the case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots
Devoleena Bhattacharjee
Student activists and former research scholars from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been in judicial custody since 2020, were denied bail recently. On January 5, 2026, the Supreme Court of India refused to grant bail to them, leading to mixed response from social media. While some came out in support of Khalid and Imam, others stand in support of SC's decision. Amid the social media divide, television actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee slammed people who are supporting Umar and Sharjeel.
Devoleena Bhattacharjee slams Umar and Sharjeel supporters
Retweeting an old video of Imam, Devoleena wrote, "Literally Bharat Gaddaro se bhare pade hai jo aise gaddaro k support mein khade hai. Insaan padh likh kar bhi apni radical soch aur parvarish ko nahi hara pata… (sic)."
Literally Bharat Gaddaro se bhare pade hai jo aise gaddaro k support mein khade hai. Insaan padh likh kar bhi apni radical soch aur parvarish ko nahi hara pata…#UmarKhalid #SharjeelImam https://t.co/TKJMNhORkt
— Devoleena Bhattacharjee (@Devoleena_23) January 6, 2026
For the unversed, the Supreme Court refused to grant bail to student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the alleged "larger conspiracy" case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots. Pronouncing the judgment, a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B. Varale said that the prosecution material disclosed a prima facie case against Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, thereby attracting the statutory bar to bail under Section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
At this juncture, the Justice Kumar-led Bench observed that the prosecution evidence and other material "does not justify their enlargement on bail", adding that the record suggested their involvement at the level of planning, mobilisation and issuance of strategic directions.
However, the apex court granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed, all of whom have been in custody for more than five years. In September 2025, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the bail pleas of Khalid, Imam and several other accused in the case, observing that a prima facie case under the UAPA was made out against them.
Netizens React
While some netizens praised her for sharing her views on X, some trolled her over her Muslim husband, Shanawaz Shaikh. A netizen wrote, "Thanks and hats off for speaking up! Which is quite unusual in film industry (sic)." Another X user noted, "You are probably the only B town actress who has and will have the guts to speak on Hindu atrocities and Nationalism (sic)."
However, one user wrote, "Waise apka husband ka nam kya 'Shahnawaz' se Ramesh ho gya kya? Toh fir aap chup hi raho (sic)."
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