Thu Sep 11 14:37:34 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Indian Supreme Court is set to hear petitions from student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and Gulfisha Fatima, challenging the Delhi High Court’s denial of their bail in a UAPA case related to the 2020 Delhi riots. The High Court previously rejected the bail pleas of these and other accused, stating the riots were a “premeditated, well-orchestrated conspiracy” and that inflammatory speeches by the accused incited violence under the guise of protest. The accused have been in jail since 2020, and their lawyers cite trial delays and parity with co-accused who have been granted bail as reasons for their release.

**News Article:**

**Supreme Court to Hear Bail Pleas of Activists in Delhi Riots Case**

**New Delhi, September 11, 2025** – The Supreme Court will hear the bail petitions of student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and Gulfisha Fatima on Friday, September 12th. The activists are challenging a Delhi High Court order that denied them bail in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) concerning the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots.

Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria will preside over the matter, while the petition of co-accused Meeran Haider is scheduled to be heard by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran.

The Delhi High Court previously rejected the bail pleas of nine accused, including Khalid, Imam, and Fatima, asserting that the riots were not a spontaneous protest but a planned conspiracy. The court also emphasized the use of inflammatory speeches by the accused to instigate violence.

Khalid, Imam, and others have been imprisoned since 2020, facing charges under the UAPA and the Indian Penal Code for allegedly masterminding the riots that resulted in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries. Lawyers representing the activists argue for their release, citing the lengthy trial delays and the precedent of bail being granted to other co-accused. While Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and Asif Iqbal Tanha had been previously granted bail, former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan was released on bail in March 2022.

The case raises fundamental questions about freedom of speech and the right to protest, issues that the Supreme Court will now grapple with as it reviews the High Court’s decision.

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