SC verdict on Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam highlights: ‘Jail is my life now,’ says Umar after SC denies bail plea

• The Supreme Court on Monday denied the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, while ordering the release of five others co-accused in the Delhi riots case.

• SC spoke on the arguments made by the defense on the delay in the trial and the highlighting of Article 21. “This court is not engaged in abstract comparison between the constitution and the statute,” the court said, according to Bar and Bench.

• The SC Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria cited Section 43D(5) of the UAPA under which the Khalid, Imam and others were arrested. The court said the section is distinct from general provisions on grant of bail as it does not exclude judicial scrutiny or mandate denial of bail in default.

• The Bench said the court would have to undertake a structured enquiry as to whether the prosecution material, if accepted, constitutes a prima facie case, and whether the specific role attributed to the accused crosses the statutory threshold, according to Live Law.

• The top court said it was necessary to examine the appeals of each of the accused independently, adding that the record had disclosed that all defendants were not on equal footing as regards culpability. “Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam stand on a qualitatively different footing as compared to other accused,” the court stated.

• The court granted conditional bail to the five co-accused, while stating that Imam and Khalid can apply for bail again after one year. “The grant of bail to these accused does not show a dilution of the allegations against them,” the court said, adding that the bail for the five co-accused could be cancelled if conditions were violated.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: After Supreme Court denied his bail plea on Monday, Umar Khalid Monday said he was happy and relieved for others who were ordered to be released, PTI news agency cited his partner Banojyotsna Lahiri as saying.

"'I am really happy for the others, who got bail! So relieved', Umar said. 'I'll come tomorrow for Mulaqat', I replied. 'Good good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai'. #UmarKhalid" Banojyotsna posted on X.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: Lawyer of Gulfisha Fatima, one of the five co-accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, said that the defense was “happy” that five people were granted bail.

“They will be coming out of jail after 5.5 years. Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam have been given the liberty to apply for bail after one year,” the lawyer, Sarim Javed, told ANI news agency.

“The police and trial have been directed by the court to run the case swiftly, and all the witnesses are to be examined within a year...” Javed added.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: As the Supreme Court ruled the verdict in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, union minister of textiles Giriraj Singh welcomed the judiciary's decision.

He claimed that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam had worked to sever the Chicken’s neck corridor and spread hate against the country. "They are doing the same work that Pakistan is doing. They are doing the same kind of work that Kasab did. Those who are supporting them should be ashamed," Singh told ANI.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: Shifa Ur Rehman's wife welcomed the latest SC verdict on her husband's bail and thanked the legal team for their efforts towards the case.

"We welcome the judgement of the Supreme Court and thank the lawyers...May Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam also get bail at the earliest," Shifa Ur Rehman's wife said as she spoke to news agency ANI.

Delhi minister Kapil Mishra said the Supreme Court verdict denying bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam is “legally correct.”

“The Supreme Court has found that what people have been saying from the beginning, that the riots in Delhi were carried out as part of a well-planned conspiracy, is true. The riots in Delhi were carried out after careful planning,” the Delhi minister told PTI news agency.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta welcomes the Supreme Court verdict denying bail to jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.

“I welcome the SC's decision; conspirators and their political supporters should be punished,” PTI news agency quoted Gupta as saying.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday said the Supreme Court verdict denying bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam has “sent a very strong message.”

“Rioters should not be released from jail. This is not the Congress era, where rioters were allowed to roam free; rioters belong in jail,” Sirsa told PTI news agency.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: After the judgment, wife of Shifa Ur Rehman, one of the co-accused in the Delhi riots case, welcomed the Supreme Court verdict granting him bail.

“We welcome the judgement of the Supreme Court and thank the lawyers...May Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam also get bail at the earliest...” Rehman's wife told ANI news agency.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: While denying the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, the top court said that the delay in trial cannot operate as a ‘trump card’ which would automatically displace statutory safeguards.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday denied bail to Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, while ordering the release of five co-accused in the UAPA case linked to the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the 2020 riots.

The top court drew a distinction in the roles of Khalid and Imam, in comparison to the other five co-accused. “The record discloses that appellants are not on equal footing when it comes to culpability…” the SC said, adding that Imam and Khalid stand on a qualitatively different footing as compared to other accused.

The top court asserted that in the case, it is necessary to examine each appeal independently, adding that the record discloses that appellants are not on equal footing when it comes to culpability.

“The hierarchy of participation requires the court to assess each application individually. Article 21 requires the state to justify prolonged pre trial custody,” Bar and Bench quoted the court as saying.

The SC Bench said that Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid “stand on a qualitatively different footing as compared to other accused.”

While delivering the judgement, the Supreme Court highlighted Section 43D(5) of UAPA, while stating that it departs from general provisions for grant of bail, according to Bar and Bench.

“It does not exclude judicial scrutiny or mandate denial of bail in default,” the top court stated.

The Supreme Court, while delivering the judgment, said that the bail is not a “forum for evaluating defences.” It said that the correct application requires the court to undertake a structured enquiry, according to Bar and Bench.

The top court said on Mondaythat the pre-trial incarceration of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others “cannot be assumed to have the character of punishment.” The top court further highlighted that Article 21 occupies a central space in the constitutional scheme, Bar and Bench reported.

“The deprivation of liberty will not be arbitrary. The UAPA as a special statute represents a legislative judgement as to the conditions on which bail may be granted in pre trial stage,” the court stated, according to Bar and Bench.

The Supreme Court on Monday said the appeals by the jailed activists “arise out of a common judgement by the High Court denying bail.”

“Submissions were advanced on prolonged incarceration and liberty under article 21 of the constitution. This court is not engaged in abstract comparison between the constitution and the statute,” Bar and Bench quoted the SC as saying.

The Supreme Court hearing for the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and five others has begun, with the SC Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria assembling, Bar and Bench reported.

The activists have been jailed under the stringent UAPA case linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The top court will pronounce its verdict shortly.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: The Delhi Police has objected to the bail pleas, while submitting before court that the alleged offences involve a deliberate attempt to destabilise the state, ANI news agency reported.

The police further argued that the protests were not spontaneous but allegedly planned “pan-India" aiming at “regime change” and “economic strangulation”, according to the ANI report.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: The advocates appearing for Khalid, Imam and others have, during the arguments, mostly focused on the delay and the unlikelihood of the commencement of the trial, ANI news agency reported.

It was stated to the court that the defendants have been in custody for over five years in a case wherein they are facing serious allegations. It was also contended that there is no proof that they instigated the riots, according to ANI.

Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: The verdict on the bail pleas of jailed activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and five others will be delivered by a bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria.

SC verdict on Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam live updates: The Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict on bail pleas of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and others in the under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), linked to the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the 2020 riots in parts of north-east Delhi.