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A Delhi Court has dismissed the bail of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) accused Umar Khalid in the Delhi Riots larger conspiracy cases.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat pronounced the order at noon today at Karkardooma Court.

On September 13,2020 Khalid was arrested in connection with communal clashes that broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020, after violence between Citizenship (Amendment) Act supporters and its protesters became out of control  leaving many people dead and several injured.

Khalid was granted bail in April, 2021 in another case but has been behind bars in Tihar Jail over conspiracy charges under UAPA. 

During the course of trial, the SPP Amit Prasad had argued that, under the garb of secularism and upholding tenets of democracy, Umar Khalid led a larger conspiracy which was communal and eventually led to the Delhi Riots in 2020.

"He tried to create “Aatank ka Mahaul” in his speeches and said “hum musalmano ko”. Note that Umar Khalid claims to be atheist. What is his identity really? At least Sharjeel Imam has strength to say I am what I am! His (Umar Khalid) speeches do not refer to lynchings met out to Kamlesh Tiwari and others but his concern is only for one community but.... he claims himself to be atheist!" Prasad had stated.

On the other hand, the Adv. Trideep Pais had argued represented the former JNU student Umar Khalid in an FIR registered against him under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in connection with the Northeast Delhi riots and,had stated that the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police against Khalid did not read like a chargesheet but the script of “The Family Man” series. he had also pointed out that the words used in the chargesheet for Khalid like “Umar Khalid, a veteran of sedition” etc made it look like it was a biography on Khalid.

However, on March 14, the court granted bail to UAPA accused Ishrat Jahan in the larger conspiracy case relating to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots case. Besides Ishrat Jahan, several others including Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Safoora Zargar,  Asif Iqbal Tanha and former Aam Aadmi Party Councillor Tahir Hussain, have also been booked under the UAPA.

Further, on March, 23 the Court denied bail to accused Mohd. Saleem Khan who was also an accused in Delhi riots larger conspiracy case noting that, he was one of organizers of the Chand Bagh protest site where inflammatory speeches were given - a fact which was supported by witness statements. 

Case Title: Umar Khalis Vs. State