NEW DELHI — A Delhi court on Thursday granted interim bail to former JNU scholar and jailed student activist Umar Khalid to attend his sister’s wedding, even as the Supreme Court has yet to deliver its verdict on his regular bail plea in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Courts allowed Khalid’s plea for interim bail from December 16 to 29, subject to strict conditions, including a bar on using social media.
Khalid, who has been in jail since September 2020 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various IPC provisions had approached the Karkardooma Court seeking interim bail from December 14 to December 29, saying that his sister’s wedding is scheduled for December 27 and that his presence is essential for family ceremonies and preparations.
Granting the interim bail, the court directed him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 20,000 along with two sureties of the same amount.
“The applicant shall not use social media during the interim bail period. He shall only meet his family members, relatives and friends.
“Further, he shall remain at his home or at the places where the ceremonies of marriage as mentioned by him will take place,” the court said, adding that he must provide his mobile number to the investigating officer and keep it active till the expiry of the interim bail.
The judge further directed Khalid to surrender before the Superintendent of Prison of the concerned jail on the evening of December 29. In December last year, the court had granted him a similar 7-day interim bail to attend a family wedding.
Khalid is among several student activists — including Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed and Mohd. Saleem Khan — who have remained in custody for over five years in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 North-East Delhi riots.
A day before, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the batch of petitions filed by Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others challenging the Delhi High Court’s refusal to grant them regular bail. — With inputs from IANS
