Updated: January 05, 2026 11:42:58 am IST
SC verdict on Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam LIVE updates: Imam has been in custody since January 28, 2020, and Khalid since September 13, 2020.
Supreme Court’s decision on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: The Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been in jail for more than five years for their alleged role in the 2020 Delhi riots. However, the top court ordered the release of five other co-accused in the case, including Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammad Salim Khan and Shadab Ahmed. Bail has been granted on conditions.
The SC bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and NV Anjaria differentiated between Imam and Khalid over their alleged role in the riots in northeast Delhi.
Imam, Khalid and others had challenged the Delhi High Court order which had refused to grant them bail in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) linked to the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the 2020 riots.
2020 Delhi riots and its consequences
The 2020 north-east Delhi riots took place in February, and followed weeks of tension across protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The violence lasted for several days and resulted in several deaths, widespread damage to homes, shops and places of worship.
Following the protests, Delhi Police conducted an investigation, terming the violence as a “conspiracy” linked to the protests against the CAA. During the investigation, several activists and students were arrested under the stringent UAPA Act.
These included Khalid, a student activist associated with former campus movements, and Imam, a former JNU student. Khalid has been in custody since September 13, 2020, and Imam since January 28, 2020, weeks before the Delhi riots broke out.
arguments during trial
As per HT’s earlier report, the accused has argued that the prosecution had adopted a strategy of arresting one accused at a time to artificially inflate the alleged conspiracy and delay the trial.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has cited, as a key piece of evidence, a video of Imam in which he is seen speaking about blocking the “chicken neck” corridor and separating Assam from the rest of India. Another video has also been cited, in which Imam is allegedly planning to “paralyze Delhi” through “chakka jam” by cutting off essential supplies.
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The SC bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and NV Anjaria differentiated between Imam and Khalid over their alleged role in the riots in northeast Delhi.
Imam, Khalid and others had challenged the Delhi High Court order which had refused to grant them bail in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) linked to the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the 2020 riots.
2020 Delhi riots and its consequences
The 2020 north-east Delhi riots took place in February, and followed weeks of tension across protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The violence lasted for several days and resulted in several deaths, widespread damage to homes, shops and places of worship.
Following the protests, Delhi Police conducted an investigation, terming the violence as a “conspiracy” linked to the protests against the CAA. During the investigation, several activists and students were arrested under the stringent UAPA Act.
These included Khalid, a student activist associated with former campus movements, and Imam, a former JNU student. Khalid has been in custody since September 13, 2020, and Imam since January 28, 2020, weeks before the Delhi riots broke out.
arguments during trial
As per HT’s earlier report, the accused has argued that the prosecution had adopted a strategy of arresting one accused at a time to artificially inflate the alleged conspiracy and delay the trial.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has cited, as a key piece of evidence, a video of Imam in which he is seen speaking about blocking the “chicken neck” corridor and separating Assam from the rest of India. Another video has also been cited, in which Imam is allegedly planning to “paralyze Delhi” through “chakka jam” by cutting off essential supplies.
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January 05, 2026 11:42:57 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: Delay in trial does not act as ‘trump card’, says Supreme Court in judgment
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam LIVE UPDATES: Rejecting the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, the top court said delay in the trial cannot act as a ‘trump card’ that will automatically displace statutory safeguards.
January 05, 2026 11:23:34 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: SC denies bail to Khalid, Imam; Ordered to release five co-accused
The Supreme Court on Wednesday denied bail to Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, while ordered the release of five co-accused in the UAPA case related to the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the 2020 riots.
The top court differentiated the roles of Khalid and Imam compared to the other five co-accused. The Supreme Court said, “The record shows that the appellants are not on the same level when it comes to culpability…” The Supreme Court said that Imam and Khalid stand on a qualitatively different level compared to the other accused.
January 05, 2026 11:11:25 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: ‘Khalid, Imam stand on a qualitatively different level than other accused,’ says Supreme Court
The top court stressed that in the case, it is necessary to examine each appeal independently, adding that the record shows that the appellants are not at the same level when it comes to culpability.
Bar and Bench quoted the court as saying, “The hierarchy of involvement requires the court to evaluate each application individually. Article 21 requires the State to justify prolonged pre-trial detention.”
The Supreme Court bench said that Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid “stand on a qualitatively different footing than the other accused.”
January 05, 2026 11:08:15 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: SC says Section 43D(5) of UAPA does not exclude judicial inquiry or denial of bail.
While delivering the judgement, the Supreme Court highlighted Section 43D(5) of the UAPA, which, according to the Bar and Bench, is different from the normal provisions for granting bail.
“This does not exclude judicial inquiry or the mandate to deny bail by default,” the top court said.
January 05, 2026 11:05:57 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: ‘Bail is not a platform to evaluate the defence,’ says top court.
The Supreme Court ruled that bail is not a “forum for evaluation of defence”. It said that according to Bar and Bench, the correct application requires the court to conduct a structured inquiry.
January 05, 2026 11:01:18 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: ‘Pre-trial imprisonment cannot be considered as character of punishment,’ says SC
The apex court on Monday said the pre-trial detention of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others “cannot be considered a punishment”. The top court further highlighted that Article 21 holds a central place in the constitutional scheme, Bar and Bench said.
According to Bar and Bench, the court said, “Deprivation of liberty would not be arbitrary. UAPA represents a legislative decision in the form of a special statute as to the conditions on which bail can be granted at the pre-trial stage.”
January 05, 2026 10:58:20 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: ‘Appeal lies on the basis of common ground decision of High Court refusing bail,’ says SC
The Supreme Court on Monday said the appeals by jailed activists “arise from a general judgment of the High Court refusing bail.”
Bar and Bench quoted the Supreme Court as saying, “Submissions were made on long-term imprisonment and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. This Court does not engage in abstract comparisons between the Constitution and the statute.”
January 05, 2026 10:49:30 am First
Supreme Court’s decision on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: Bench gathers to hear bail plea
Bar and Bench informed that the hearing on the bail plea of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and five others has started in the Supreme Court, in which the SC bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and NV Anjaria is assembled.
The activists have been jailed under a stringent UAPA case related to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. The apex court will give its verdict shortly.
January 05, 2026 10:24:42 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: What did Delhi Police say during the debate?
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam LIVE updates: Delhi Police has objected to the bail plea, submitting before the court that the alleged crimes involve a deliberate attempt to destabilize the state, ANI news agency reported.
According to the ANI report, the police further argued that the protests were not spontaneous, but were allegedly “pan-India” planned, aimed at “regime change” and “economic strangulation”.
January 05, 2026 9:48:14 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: Lawyers appearing for activists mostly argue over delay
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam LIVE updates: Lawyers appearing for Khalid, Imam and others mostly focused on the delay and the possibility of the trial beginning during the arguments, ANI news agency reported.
The court was told that the defendants have been in custody for more than five years in a case in which they face serious allegations. According to ANI, it was also argued that there was no evidence that he instigated the riots.
January 05, 2026 9:23:42 am First
Supreme Court verdict on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam live updates: Who will deliver the verdict?
Supreme Court verdict on Omar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Live Updates: The verdict on the bail plea of jailed activists Omar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and five others will be pronounced by a bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and NV Anjaria.
January 05, 2026 9:07:35 am First
SC verdict on Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam live updates: What is the matter?
SC verdict on Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam LIVE UPDATES: The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on the bail plea of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and others under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) linked to the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the 2020 riots in parts of north-east Delhi.
