Earlier in the day, the apex court denied their bail plea relating to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The court observed that the two stood on a “qualitatively different footing” compared to the other accused in terms of prosecution material and evidence
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. File pic
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Member of Parliament (MP) Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s decision to deny bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, the accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, stating that the duo has remained in jail for the past five years without a charge sheet being filed, news agency ANI reported.
#WATCH | Delhi: On the Supreme Court rejecting the bail plea of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the larger conspiracy case of the Delhi riots, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "They have said that there is no such thing as personal liberty under UAPA. Now, charges… pic.twitter.com/0wJtapWgna
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2026
Her remarks came after the Supreme Court rejected Khalid and Imam’s bail pleas, while granting relief to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad, the other accused in the case.
Chaturvedi said it was troubling that bail had not been granted despite the absence of a charge sheet even after five years.
“There has been no charge sheet filed for five years, still bail wasn’t granted,” she said.
Speaking to ANI, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, “They have said that there is no such thing as personal liberty under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Now, charges have been framed under UAPA, but no charge sheet has been filed for five years. There is no charge sheet, bail was not granted, there was a hearing in the Supreme Court, some people got bail, but these two did not.”
She added, “I hope that in this case, a charge sheet will be filed at the earliest and action will begin. These two have been in jail for the past five years without knowing the charges.”
Delhi riots 2020: SC cites “central role” in alleged conspiracy
Earlier in the day, the apex court denied their bail plea relating to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The court observed that the two stood on a “qualitatively different footing” compared to the other accused in terms of prosecution material and evidence, ANI reported.
The bench noted that Khalid and Imam were attributed a “central” role in the alleged offences, and held that although their incarceration has been prolonged, it does not violate constitutional safeguards or override the statutory embargo under applicable laws.
The judgment was delivered by a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria on the bail pleas filed by Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad.
On December 10, 2025, the apex court had reserved its verdict after hearing detailed arguments from all parties. On September 2 last year, the Delhi High Court had rejected the bail pleas of nine accused, including Khalid and Imam, prompting them to approach the Supreme Court.
The high court had observed that, prima facie, the role of Imam and Khalid in the alleged conspiracy was “grave”, stating that they had delivered inflammatory speeches on communal lines to “instigate mass mobilisation of members of the Muslim community”.
Khalid, Imam, and others were arrested in January 2020 under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. The violence erupted during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), leaving 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.
(With ANI inputs)
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