Khalid had approached the High Court challenging the May 19 order of the trial court, which had rejected his plea for interim bail.
Umar Khalid (PTI File Photo)
DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday granted three-day interim bail to activist Umar Khalid in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act relating to the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi.
A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Madhu Jain permitted his release from June 1 to June 3 to enable him to meet his mother, who is to undergo surgery.
“Taking an empathetic view, this court is inclined to grant him interim bail for three days from June 1 to June 3 to enable the appellant to spend time with his mother,” the bench said.
The court directed that Khalid remain within the Delhi-NCR region, stay at the address provided to authorities, visit only the hospital, and use a single mobile phone number during the bail period.
Opposing the plea, the Delhi Police submitted that the surgery was not serious enough to warrant interim bail. Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju told the court that Khalid could instead be allowed to meet his mother under police escort.
Khalid had sought 15 days of interim bail, citing the need to care for his ailing mother during her surgery and to attend the Chehlum ceremony of his uncle, who died last month.
The High Court was hearing his appeal against a May 19 order of the trial court rejecting his interim bail plea. The trial court had said attending the ceremony was “not that necessary” and noted that other family members were available to care for his mother.
Khalid was booked under the anti-terror law for his alleged role as one of the “masterminds” of the February 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.
The violence occurred during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens.
Activists Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi and former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain are among those also booked in the case, which is being investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell.
On September 2, 2025, a bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur had denied bail to Khalid, Imam, Miran Haider and other accused. The Supreme Court upheld the order in January.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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