“My Son Was Not in Delhi During the Riots”: Umar Khalid’s Father Speaks Out After SC Denies Bail

The Supreme Court of India’s refusal to grant bail to student activist Umar Khalid has drawn a strong reaction from his family. Expressing disappointment, Khalid’s father, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, said that his son was not in Delhi at the time of the 2020 riots.

The Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots case, while granting bail to five other accused. The top court clarified that the cases of Khalid and Imam are qualitatively different from those of the other five, citing the nature of the allegations against them.

Family Reacts

Khalid’s father described the verdict as deeply unjust, pointing out that no evidence exists to support the allegations against his son. “It is a very unfortunate decision. There is no proof that my son made any anti-national speech or committed any anti-national act. The truth is that my son was not even in Delhi when the riots took place,” he told Times of India, adding that the ruling is an emotionally heavy blow for the family.

He further stated that his son has already spent nearly five years in jail without a trial, and now he must wait another year before filing a fresh bail application, following the complete legal procedure, which will take additional time. “We just want to say that injustice has been done to our child. We know he is innocent,” he said.

Sharjeel Imam’s Family Also Expresses Disappointment

Similarly, the family of Sharjeel Imam expressed frustration. His brother, Muzammil Imam, questioned the court’s reasoning for denying bail to only Khalid and Imam among the seven accused. “Out of seven accused, only two were denied bail on conspiracy charges. How is it possible that only these two were conspirators?” he said, calling the distinction “unfair.”

Muzammil also highlighted that Sharjeel Imam has been in jail for six years without trial. “I had hoped Sharjeel would be released. This decision is extremely disappointing,” he added. However, the families found some relief in the court granting bail to the other five accused: Gulfisha Fatima, Miran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rahman, Mohammad Salim Khan, and Shadab Ahmad. The court noted that the nature of charges against these five was limited and ancillary, making them eligible for bail under strict conditions.

The case relates to the 2020 Delhi riots, which resulted in multiple fatalities and significant property damage. Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, both student leaders, were accused of conspiring in connection with the violence.