On Monday, October 27, 2025, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the bail applications of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and Meeran Haider. Their cases fall under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and are linked to the alleged conspiracy behind the devastating February 2020 riots in Delhi.
A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria is expected to preside over the proceedings. The nation’s highest court had previously issued a notice to the Delhi Police on September 22, requesting a formal response regarding these matters.
These activists have approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Delhi High Court’s decision, issued on September 2, which had denied them bail.
The High Court had rejected bail for nine individuals, including Khalid and Imam, stating firmly that “conspiratorial” violence, disguised as public demonstrations or protests, would not be tolerated.
Beyond Khalid and Imam, others whose bail pleas were dismissed include Fatima, Haider, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi, and Shadab Ahmed.
Separately, the bail application of another accused, Tasleem Ahmed, was also rejected by a different High Court bench on the same date.
In its ruling, the High Court affirmed that the Constitution grants citizens the right to protest, demonstrate, and organize agitations, provided these actions are orderly, peaceful, and unarmed, and conducted strictly within legal boundaries.
While acknowledging that the right to engage in peaceful protests and deliver public speeches is protected under Article 19(1)(a) and should not be overtly restricted, the High Court emphasized that this right is “not absolute” and is always “subject to reasonable restrictions.”
The bail rejection order underscored that “allowing an unfettered right to protest would compromise the constitutional framework and severely impact the country’s law and order situation.”
Khalid, Imam, and the other accused were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, accused of being the “masterminds” behind the February 2020 riots. These violent clashes resulted in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries.
The unrest originally flared up during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens.
All accused, who have consistently denied the allegations, have remained in judicial custody since 2020. They moved the High Court after their initial bail requests were denied by a trial court.