Supreme Court Denies Bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam; BJP Calls It a Blow to Congress

The Supreme Court of India on Monday rejected the bail petitions of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. The BJP immediately reacted, calling the verdict a significant setback for Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party.

BJP Response

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari described the Supreme Court’s decision as a “resounding slap” on the face of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress ecosystem, which, according to him, tried to portray Khalid and Imam—referred to by the party as “Urban Naxal poster boys”—as innocent victims. Bhandari added, “In the eyes of the public and the law, Rahul Gandhi’s urban Naxal narrative has been defeated. Will Congress apologize to the nation for presenting anti-India forces as victims?”

Supreme Court Observations

A bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria observed that prima facie, the allegations against Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) are substantial. “Statutory criteria apply to these petitioners. At this stage of proceedings, it is not appropriate to release them on bail,” the court stated.

The court granted bail to five other accused—Gulfisha Fatima, Miran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmad, and Mohammad Salim Khan—highlighting that the legal position of Khalid and Imam is distinct from the other defendants.

Case Background

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and the other accused face charges of being “masterminds” behind the February 2020 riots in Northeast Delhi. They are accused under the UAPA and several provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Supreme Court had reserved its judgment after hearing arguments on December 10, 2025, from senior counsels including Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Siddharth Dave, Salman Khurshid, and Siddharth Luthra for the accused, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju for the prosecution.

The riots in 2020 left dozens dead and hundreds injured, and the case continues to be one of the most closely watched under the UAPA framework in India.