HC seeks response of police on Sharjeel’s plea against bail denial
Delhi High Court seeks Delhi Police response on Sharjeel Imam’s appeal against bail denial in the 2020 north-east Delhi riots larger conspiracy case
- The Delhi High Court issued notice to Delhi Police on Sharjeel Imam’s appeal against rejection of his second regular bail plea.
- The trial court said it was bound by the Supreme Court’s 5 January 2026 order on renewed bail requests.
- The Supreme Court’s 5 January 2026 order required renewed bail requests only after protected witnesses were examined or after one year, whichever came earlier.
- The prosecution argued that there was no substantial change in circumstances and that Umar Khalid’s review petition had already been dismissed.
What happened
The Delhi High Court issued notice to Sharjeel Imam’s appeal against a trial court order that rejected his second regular bail plea in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 north-east Delhi riots. A Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan posted the matter for hearing on 27 August 2026.
Sharjeel Imam was arrested in August 2020 and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. He is accused in the alleged conspiracy behind the riots, which killed 53 people and injured more than 700.
The Delhi High Court case on Sharjeel Imam’s appeal against denial of bail illustrates the UPSC-relevant balance between personal liberty under Article 21 and public-order or internal-security concerns under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The case also helps revise appellate review of bail orders and the role of protected-witness examination in custody decisions.
