Background:

Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) scholar, was arrested in September 2020 and has been in custody since then. He is accused of being part of a larger conspiracy behind the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020. He has denied all charges. Activist Umar Khalid, facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, withdrew his bail plea from the Supreme Court on February 14, 2024. The court dismissed the petition as withdrawn, allowing Khalid to pursue bail afresh before the trial court.

Withdrawal of Plea:

On February 14, Khalid’s lawyer, Kapil Sibal, informed the Supreme Court that they wished to withdraw the bail plea due to “a change in circumstances.” He did not elaborate on the nature of the change but stated their intention to seek bail afresh before the trial court.

While withdrawing the bail plea, Sibal clarified that he would continue to argue the separate writ petition filed by Khalid challenging the constitutionality of certain provisions of the UAPA. This petition is tagged with other similar challenges to the anti-terror law and awaits a hearing by the Supreme Court.

The withdrawal of Khalid’s bail plea from the Supreme Court leaves the question of his release unresolved. He will now pursue bail afresh before the trial court, while the challenge to the UAPA provisions continues through a separate legal process. This case highlights the complexities and challenges faced by individuals accused under the UAPA, particularly regarding bail and pre-trial detention.