2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots accused Umar Khalid, has been granted interim bail to attend his sister’s wedding. A Delhi court has allowed him to remain out between 16th and 29th December, according to the order issued by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai.
During this period, the court has put strict conditions on him. Khalid cannot use social media, contact any witnesses, or interact with anyone connected to the case. He has been told to stay at home or only visit the places where the wedding ceremonies are scheduled. By the evening of 29th December, he must surrender again.
Earlier, granted bail twice for family functions
This is not the first time that he has been granted temporary bail on the grounds of attending a family event. Umar Khalid had been granted bail twice in the past two years for similar reasons.
He was granted bail for seven days from 28th December 2023 to 3rd January 2024 to attend his cousin’s wedding. Before that, in December 2022, the court had allowed him to be out from 23rd to 30th December so he could attend his sister’s wedding, after which he surrendered on time.
Charges under UAPA and ongoing trial
Khalid is presently in judicial custody, accused of the larger conspiracy behind the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots. Violence broke out in Northeast Delhi on February 23rd and subsided on February 26th, 2020. Fifty-three people, including Head Constable Ratan Lal, IB officer Ankit Sharma, and Hindu labourer Dilbar Negi, died. Close to 200 people were injured.
Properties belonging to Hindus were targeted and demolished, including their houses, shops, and temples. The riots, according to the investigators, were carefully planned and designed with the intention of fanning communal strife and undermining the sovereignty of India. Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain, Gulfisha Fatima, Safoora Zargar, Natasha Narwal, and Devangana Kalita are some of the accused in the larger conspiracy case.
