New Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday denied bail to former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam and seven others in the larger conspiracy case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in relation to the 2020 north-east Delhi riots.

The nine accused who sought bail were Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, Abdul Khalid Saifi, and Gulfisha Fatima.

Since the trial court is yet to frame the charges against them, the accused sought bail mainly on the ground that the delay in the trial has led to their prolonged incarceration in jail.

A Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur pronounced the verdict.

Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020 and charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly, as well as several other offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

He has been in jail since then. This is the second time he has approached the High Court for bail.

The trial court had first denied bail to him in March 2022. He then approached the High Court. which also denied him relief in October 2022, prompting him to file an appeal before the top court.

In May 2023, the Supreme Court sought the response of the Delhi Police in the matter. His plea before the top court was then adjourned 14 times.

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On February 14. In 2024, he withdrew his bail plea from the Supreme Court, citing a change in circumstances.