On Wednesday, Former JNU student Umar Khalid withdrew his bail plea from the Supreme Court in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA over his alleged involvement in the conspiracy behind the northeast Delhi riots of February 2020.A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi & Pankaj Mithal was told by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khalid, that he wishes to withdraw the bail plea due to “change in circumstances”.Sibal said, “I wish to argue the legal question (challenging UAPA provisions) but wants to withdraw the bail plea due to change in circumstances. We will try our luck in trial court.” The senior lawyer, however, did not elaborate on “change in circumstances”.The bench accepted the request of Sibal & ordered for withdrawal of the bail plea of Khalid.Khalid has challenged the October 18, 2022 order of the Delhi High Court by which his bail plea was rejected.The high court had rejected Khalid’s bail plea, saying he was in constant touch with other co-accused & the allegations against him were prima facie true.The high court had also said the actions of the accused prima facie qualified as “terrorist act” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, & several others have been booked under the anti-terror law UAPA & several provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the “masterminds” of the February 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead & over 700 injured,The violence had erupted during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) & the National Register of Citizens (NRC).Khalid, arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020, had sought bail on grounds that he neither had any criminal role in the violence nor any “conspiratorial connect” with any other accused in the case.The Delhi Police had opposed Khalid’s bail plea in the high court, saying the speech delivered by him was “very calculated” & he brought up contentious issues like Babri Masjid, triple talaq, Kashmir, the alleged suppression of Muslims & the CAA & NRC.
TAGS: Umar Khalid bail plea withdrawal Supreme Court Delhi riots UAPA change in circumstances Kapil Sibal Delhi High Court prima facie terrorist act
