Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case: Supreme Court adjourns Umar Khalid’s bail plea until January 31, 2024

On January 24, 2024 (Wednesday), the Supreme Court (SC) of India adjourned the hearing of the bail plea by former JNU scholar and activist Umar Khalid in connection with the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case until January 31, 2024. While adjourning the hearing Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan clarified that the case would be listed ‘high on the board’. Since September 2020, Umar Khalid has been behind bars awaiting his trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in the February 2020 communal violence in the national capital. 

Yesterday (January 24), the SC bench was hearing a special leave petition filed by Khalid against the Delhi High Court decision denying him bail last year. The reason behind the adjournment of the hearing was Justice Trivedi’s presence in a different special bench combination to hear another matter at 2 PM. Since the bench was available only till lunch, Senior Advocate CU Singh who appeared for Khalid requested for posting the matter on January 31. To this, a two-judge bench agreed and adjourned the hearing until January 31.