Mon Sep 22 10:21:17 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, formatted as if it were published in The Hindu, along with a brief summary of the source material.

**Summary of Source Material:**

The provided text is a news article from The Hindu, dated September 22, 2025, reporting on the Supreme Court’s decision to seek a response from Delhi Police regarding the bail pleas of several activists, including Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and Gulfisha Fatima. These activists are accused of being part of a larger conspiracy related to the 2020 Delhi riots. The article details the arguments made by the activists’ lawyers, highlighting their prolonged pre-trial detention and raising concerns about violations of their rights. It also summarizes the Delhi High Court’s rejection of their bail pleas and the prosecution’s claims against them, emphasizing the alleged premeditated nature of the riots. The article references previous bail grants to other co-accused individuals.

**News Article:**

**Supreme Court Seeks Delhi Police Response on Bail Pleas of 2020 Riots Accused**

*New Delhi, September 22, 2025* – The Supreme Court today sought a response from the Delhi Police on the bail applications of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Shifa Ur Rehman, who are accused in the larger conspiracy case connected to the 2020 Delhi riots.

A Bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria issued the notice and scheduled the next hearing for October 7.

The petitioners are among several individuals whose bail pleas were previously rejected by the Delhi High Court on September 2. The High Court had asserted that the accused played “prima facie grave” roles in the alleged conspiracy behind the riots.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Gulfisha Fatima, highlighted that his client, a student, has been incarcerated for over five years. He urged the court to also consider her application for interim bail. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Umar Khalid, echoed the call for a notice on the bail pleas, emphasizing the length of his client’s detention.

The accused face charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Delhi Police, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad, have accused the activists of being the “masterminds” behind the violence, which resulted in 53 fatalities and over 700 injuries during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) in February 2020.

The High Court, in its 133-page verdict, had stated that permitting unrestrained protests would “damage the constitutional framework” and disrupt law and order, asserting that the riots were deliberately timed to coincide with the visit of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

Sharjeel Imam, who initially moved the Supreme Court, argues that he has been in pre-trial detention for over five and a half years since his arrest on January 28, 2020. Umar Khalid, arrested on September 13, 2020, has similarly urged the court to consider his extended incarceration.

Lawyers for the accused contend that their prolonged detention is due to systemic delays and violates their fundamental right to liberty and a speedy trial. They also argue for bail on the grounds of parity, citing the earlier release of co-accused individuals such as Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Asif Iqbal Tanha, and former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan.

The Supreme Court’s decision to seek the Delhi Police’s response marks a significant step in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the 2020 Delhi riots case. The next hearing on October 7 will be closely watched.

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