‘Rapists Get Bail, Those Raising Voices Get Jail’: Congress Leader Slams Supreme Court After Umar Khalid Bail Denial

Senior Congress leader and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has sharply criticized the Indian judiciary following the Supreme Court’s rejection of bail petitions for Umar Khalid, accused in the 2020 Delhi riots. Kharge, son of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, alleged that in “developed India,” individuals who raise their voices are imprisoned, while those accused of rape often secure bail.

Kharge Questions Judicial Priorities

In a social media post, Kharge stated: “Welcome to developed India, where raising your voice lands you in jail, but rapists are granted bail.” He further listed cases where alleged rapists received bail, including Kuldeep Singh Sengar, Asaram Bapu, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, contrasting them with Umar Khalid, Sonam Wangchuk, Sagar Gorakhe, and Ramesh Gaichore, who remain in custody.

Supreme Court Rejects Khalid and Imam Bail

The Supreme Court today dismissed the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, considered key conspirators in the Delhi riots. While Khalid’s bail was denied, the court granted bail to five others: Gulfisha Fatima, Miran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammad Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmed.

BJP Pushback

BJP spokespersons have criticized Congress over the comments. Shahzad Poonawalla told ANI that Khalid and Imam had support not only from the Congress ecosystem but also from foreign correspondences. He added that the Supreme Court found prima facie evidence that the accused were involved in acts of terrorism and rioting. Another BJP spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, described the court’s verdict as a “slap on the face of Congress and Rahul Gandhi,” arguing that the decision underscores that all accused cannot be treated alike, and it counters the support allegedly extended by Congress to the so-called “anti-national lobby.”

Case Background

The 2020 Delhi riots case involves a large-scale conspiracy that shook the national capital. While Khalid and Imam remain in custody, the Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to five other accused highlights the differentiated judicial approach based on the merits of individual cases.