The Supreme Court has finished hearing arguments regarding the bail of the six accused in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy and is expected to give a judgement soon. The apex court on Wednesday reserved its verdict regarding the bail petitions filed by the six accused in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case.
Petitioners for the case include Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, and Mohd Saleem Khan. The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria heard extensive arguments from both the Delhi Police and defence for the petitioners. The accused have been in custody for over five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code.
The Court has directed all parties to submit compiled documents and materials by December 18, and a decision is expected before the winter recess begins on December 19, 2025.
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Final arguments
Appearing for the accused, the defense argued that the petitioners were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest and that “unpalatable” speeches alone do not constitute a terrorist act under the UAPA.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police maintained that the riots were a “pre-planned” and “well-orchestrated conspiracy” and that the speeches were intended to incite communal violence and effect a “regime-change operation”.
Representing Delhi Police, additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju said that acts of one conspirator can be attributed to others. “Sharjeel Imam’s speeches can be attributed to Umar Khalid. Sharjeel Imam’s case will be considered as evidence against the others,” he said.
The Court questioned the Delhi Police for placing reliance on an unrelated 2016 FIR concerning “tukde tukde” slogans allegedly raised at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). “Why are you showing a prior FIR for riots that happened in 2020? What has it got to do with it?,” the Bench asked.
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Case background and status of accused
The present case pertains to allegations that the accused had hatched a larger conspiracy to cause multiple riots in Delhi in n February 2020 following clashes over the then-proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
The FIR in question was registered by a Special Cell of the Delhi Police under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The violence erupted during widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The accused have moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court’s September 2 order denying them bail.
One of the key accused Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020 and charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly as well as several other offences under UAPA. He has been in jail since then.
Imam too was booked in multiple FIRs across several States, mostly under sedition and UAPA charges. Though he secured bail in other matters, he is yet to get bail in the present case on a larger conspiracy.
Gulfisha Fatima, the only woman accused in this specific FIR (59/2020) still in custody, having spent nearly six years jailed without trial. Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed and Mohd Saleem have been in prolonged custody and were denied bail by the Delhi High Court in September 2025, prompting their Supreme Court appeal. |
