NEW DELHI: (Oct 27) The Supreme Court on Monday criticized the Delhi Police for failing to file its response to the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and three others in the 2020 North East Delhi riots conspiracy case.
A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria expressed displeasure over the delay, noting that the Court had earlier made it clear the matter would be disposed of on October 27. “In all bail matters, there is no question of filing reply,” the Bench remarked, rejecting the Delhi Police’s plea for two more weeks to respond.
“You may be appearing for the first time, but we granted sufficient time,” the Court told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, while directing him to be prepared to argue the case by Friday, October 31.
The Court also took note of the prolonged detention of the accused, observing, “Five years are over already. This is only about consideration of bail. See if something can be done.”
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the accused, opposed further delays, arguing that “when the matter is about delay, there cannot be more delay.”
Khalid and others have challenged the Delhi High Court’s September 2 order denying them bail. The case, registered under the UAPA and IPC provisions, pertains to an alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the February 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and hundreds injured.
Khalid, arrested in September 2020, has been in jail for five years, with multiple bail pleas denied by both the trial court and the High Court. The Supreme Court had earlier sought Delhi Police’s response in May 2023, but the case has been adjourned 14 times since.
The accused, including Sharjeel Imam, have been booked in multiple cases across states under sedition and UAPA charges. While Imam has secured bail in several related cases, both he and Khalid remain incarcerated under the conspiracy FIR.