November 21, 2025
NEW DELHI – Delhi Police on Thursday vehemently opposed the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots’ larger conspiracy case, saying that “intellectual terrorists” are more dangerous than the ordinary ones working on the ground.
In the wake of the recent terrorist attack near Red Fort, the police said that nowadays it has become a trend for doctors and engineers to engage in anti-national activities. The Delhi attack was plotted and executed by a terror module comprising mostly doctors. The bomber, Umar Un Nabi, was himself a doctor.
Representing the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju told the top court that the delay in the trial was attributable to them and that they can’t take advantage of it.
Activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, and Mohd. Saleem Khan had challenged in the Supreme Court the September 2 Delhi High Court order denying them bail.
Earlier on November 6, the accuaed activists had concluded their arguments.
The riots took place in February 2020, following clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). According to the police, the violence claimed 53 lives and injured hundreds. The present case pertains to an alleged “larger conspiracy” to orchestrate the riots.
The FIR, registered by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, includes charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020 and has remained in custody since then. His earlier bail pleas were rejected by the trial court and the High Court, prompting his appeal before the Supreme Court.
During the Supreme Court hearing, they all have denied their role in the violence.
In his defence, Umar Khalid had told the Court that he “was not even in Delhi when the riots took place.” Imam’s lawyer said he had only called for “peaceful protests,” not violence.
Fatima’s counsel argued there was no evidence linking her to any violent acts, saying, “No documentary or oral evidence shows anyone carrying chilli powder, acid, etc., at the protest sites where I was present.”
Meeran Haider’s counsel, Siddharth Agarwal, said Haider had publicly objected to Imam’s presence at the protest sites, refuting any allegation of conspiracy.
On Thursday, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Shadab Ahmed, submitted that his client had not caused any delay in trial and was not part of the WhatsApp groups cited by police.