Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC rejects bail plea of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: Former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar says long incarceration of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam a key concern

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC says trial must proceed with continuity; appreciates lawyers’ assistance

The Supreme Court emphasised that the trial should proceed with continuity to ensure timely justice. The court also placed on record its appreciation for the assistance provided by the learned senior counsel and the team of lawyers involved in the case.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC directs trial court to expedite examination of protected witnesses

The Supreme Court said it is appropriate to direct the trial court to ensure that the examination of protected witnesses is carried out without any delay. The court emphasised that the trial should not be unnecessarily prolonged and must proceed efficiently.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC warns ignoring differing roles of accused would be arbitrary

The Supreme Court said that to disregard the distinction between the central roles played by some accused and the facilitatory roles of others would itself lead to arbitrariness. The court emphasised the need to assess each accused individually, taking into account their specific level of involvement in the alleged conspiracy.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC says bail grant Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman and others does not dilute charges; strict conditions imposed

The Supreme Court clarified that the grant of bail to the accused does not amount to any dilution of the allegations against them. The court said the accused will be released on bail subject to several conditions. It added that if any of these conditions are violated, the trial court will be free to cancel the bail after giving the accused a hearing.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC imposes 12 condition on four accused granted bail

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC allows bail pleas of Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman and others

The Supreme Court allowed the bail pleas of Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmad, as per the judgement.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC allows Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam to seek bail after witness examination or one year

The Supreme Court said that upon the completion of the examination of protected witnesses, or after one year from the date of this order, the appellants will be at liberty to move a fresh application seeking grant of bail.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC says prima facie case made out against Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam; bail not justified at this stage

The Supreme Court said it has consciously avoided adopting a collective or unified approach while examining the bail pleas. The court said it is satisfied that the prosecution material discloses a prima facie case against Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. It added that the statutory threshold under the law stands attracted in their case and that the present stage of proceedings does not justify granting them bail.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC rejects bail plea of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in Delhi riots conspiracy case

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC says terrorist act under UAPA not confined to conventional warfare, includes all acts of attacking national integrity, sovereignity

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC says scrutiny does not weaken conspiracy case; notes Khalid, Imam on different footing

The Supreme Court said that examining each bail plea does not dismantle the prosecution’s case of conspiracy. The court observed that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam stand on a qualitatively different footing compared to the other accused.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC says each bail plea must be examined separately; notes differing levels of culpability

The Supreme Court said it is necessary to examine each bail appeal independently, noting that all appellants do not stand on equal footing in terms of culpability. The court observed that the hierarchy of participation requires individual assessment of each application. It added that under Article 21, the state must justify prolonged pre-trial custody.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC notes UAPA covers acts beyond death or destruction, includes economic and service disruption

The Supreme Court observed that the provisions of the UAPA extend beyond acts involving death or physical destruction. The court said the law also covers acts that disrupt essential services and pose a threat to the economy.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC says bail stage not meant to assess defence; calls for ‘structured enquiry’

The Supreme Court said the bail stage is not a forum for evaluating defences and clarified that judicial restraint does not amount to an abdication of duty. The court said a correct application of the law requires a structured enquiry, including whether the material discloses prima facie offences and whether the role attributed to the accused has a reasonable nexus with the commission of the alleged offence.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC says UAPA departs from general bail law but does not bar judicial scrutiny

The Supreme Court said the UAPA departs from the general provisions governing the grant of bail. However, the court clarified that the law does not exclude judicial scrutiny and does not mandate denial of bail as a matter of default.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC says delay serves as a trigger for heightened judicial scrutiny

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC underscores Article 21, says pre-trial custody not punishment; notes UAPA sets bail conditions

The Supreme Court said Article 21 occupies a central place in the constitutional framework and observed that pre-trial incarceration cannot be treated as punishment. The court said deprivation of liberty must not be arbitrary. It added that the UAPA, as a special statute, reflects a legislative judgement on the conditions under which bail may be granted at the pre-trial stage.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC notes bail appeals stem from common HC order; hears arguments on long custody, Article 21

The Supreme Court said the bail appeals before it arise from a common judgement of the Delhi High Court that denied bail. The court noted that submissions were made on prolonged incarceration and the right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. It clarified that it is not engaged in an abstract comparison between the Constitution and the statute while examining the matter.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail news live updates: Bench assembles; verdict shortly

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail news live updates: ‘Hopeful that Supreme Court will grant them bail,’ says Sharjeel Imam's lawyer

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail news live updates: Supreme Court verdict to decide fate of accused

The apex court’s verdict is expected to determine the future of the accused in one of Delhi’s most serious communal violence cases. The February 2020 riots during CAA and NRC protests left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The Supreme Court’s decision will be crucial in the ongoing UAPA proceedings.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail news live updates: High Court had earlier denied bail

The Delhi High Court had previously rejected bail for Imam, Khalid, and seven others, saying their role in the riots was “grave.” The court noted that their speeches had allegedly incited communal mobilisation, resulting in mass violence. Another accused, Tasleem Ahmed, also had a bail plea rejected by a different High Court bench.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail news live updates: Delhi Police opposes bail, alleges pan-India conspiracy

Delhi Police opposed the bail pleas, alleging the riots were part of a well-planned, pan-India conspiracy aimed at “regime change” and “economic strangulation.” Police claimed the protests coincided with the visit of the then US President and that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was used as a “radicalising catalyst” disguised as peaceful protest.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail news live updates: Defence highlights long custody and trial delays

During the hearings, advocates for the accused argued that the trial has been delayed and that the accused have been in custody for over five years. They claimed there is little chance of the trial starting soon and that there is no conclusive proof the accused instigated the violence during the riots.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail news live updates: Supreme Court to announce verdict today

The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on the bail pleas of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, and several others accused in the 2020 north-east Delhi riots. The accused, including Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmed, had challenged the Delhi High Court’s order denying them bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court had reserved its judgment on December 10 after hearing detailed arguments.