Umar Khalid, the accused in the Delhi riots case, on Friday walked out of the Tihar prison after a Delhi court granted him interim bail to attend his sister's marriage. The court granted seven-day interim bail to the former JNU student who was arrested in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots case. Khalid had applied for interim bail to attend his sister's wedding, according to Live Law.
Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat granted the interim conditional bail. He said the interim bail will be in effect from December 23-30. Khalid will have to surrender before the law on the last day, according to Justice Rawat's order.
Khalid's bail plea was opposed by the Delhi Police, which said that he is "likely to spread misinformation by use of social media during his release and cause unrest in the society". The Delhi Police further said that Khalid's mother, a boutique owner, and father, the head of a political party, were capable of making all the necessary arrangements for the wedding and there was no need to grant him bail.
"The release of the applicant is further opposed as he is very likely to spread misinformation by use of social media during his interim bail period which cannot be prevented and is likely to cause unrest in the society. He may also influence witnesses," Live Law quoted the Delhi Police's opposition to the bail plea.
Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and other individuals were charged with violating the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) anti-terror laws for allegedly being the "masterminds" of riots and protests that took place in northeast Delhi and the Jamia neighbourhood of Delhi in December 2019 and February 2020.
Khalid was taken into custody in September 2020 after being prosecuted under the strict UAPA for allegedly engaging in a "larger conspiracy" to incite disturbances. Khalid's bail application in the case in October was denied by the Delhi High Court. Amit Prasad, a special prosecutor, had opposed Khalid's request for bail, arguing that the speech he gave in Amravati in February 2020 was "very calculated" and covered a number of topics, including the Babri Masjid, the triple talaq, Kashmir, the persecution of Muslims, the CAA, and the NRC, as well as calling for "street protests" against the government.