Supreme Court Examines Activists' Bail Pleas in UAPA Case

The Supreme Court has asked the Delhi Police to respond to bail pleas submitted by activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and Meeran Haider. The pleas are related to the UAPA case concerning the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in Delhi.

A two-judge bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria has issued a notice and scheduled the matter for October 7. The activists are challenging a September 2 Delhi High Court ruling that denied bail to nine people, asserting that 'conspiratorial' violence under the guise of protests cannot be tolerated.

The activists, who have been in jail since 2020, are accused of orchestrating the riots during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens. They deny all allegations. The High Court emphasized the constitutional right to peaceful protest but stated it is subject to 'reasonable restrictions.'