India’s Supreme Court on Monday rejected bail requests from two prominent student activists, Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Both have been in jail for more than five years following their arrest linked to the 2020 Delhi riots.
The court dismissed the bail pleas filed under stringent anti-terrorism laws. Investigators accused Khalid and Imam of planning and provoking the unrest that left 53 people dead, most of them Muslims. The two activists have consistently denied all allegations and sought release several times without success.
At the same hearing, India’s Supreme Court granted bail to five other activists who were arrested in connection with the same case. A two-judge bench clarified that the allegations against Khalid and Imam were different in nature. Therefore, their bail requests could not be treated the same as the others.
The violence occurred during protests against a controversial citizenship law, which the United Nations later described as “fundamentally discriminatory.” The court also noted that Khalid and Imam may file fresh bail applications only after one year.
Khalid completed his PhD at Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2019, while Imam was pursuing his doctoral studies there at the time of his arrest. Both are 37 years old. Their prolonged detention has attracted attention nationally and internationally, raising debates over human rights and judicial processes.
Legal experts said the decision reflects the court’s careful distinction between varying levels of alleged involvement in serious criminal cases. Meanwhile, the five other activists released on bail are expected to resume normal life under court-imposed conditions.
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The case continues to be closely monitored, highlighting the sensitive nature of law enforcement and civil liberties in India. Observers say the judgment demonstrates India’s Supreme Court’s strict approach in cases involving alleged planning of large-scale public unrest.
