Supreme Court Dismisses Umar Khalid's Bail Review in Delhi Riots Case

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has dismissed activist Umar Khalid's plea for a review of the verdict that denied him bail. The court observed reasonable grounds to uphold the allegations against him related to the conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots.

A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria also rejected a plea for an oral hearing in the review petition, stressing there were no substantial grounds to overturn the earlier judgment dated January 5, 2026. This dismissal aligns with Supreme Court rules, which stipulate that review petitions can address apparent errors or resultant injustices caused by a previous decision.

Khalid and fellow accused Sharjeel Imam, both of whom have been detained since 2020, were refused bail under allegations stemming from the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The court noted their roles in planning and directing the riots, distinguishing them from others granted bail. The Delhi riots of February 2020, prompting these legal proceedings, resulted in 53 deaths during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens.