Activist Umar Khalid, who was denied bail by the Supreme Court in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, said that jail is now his life, according to his partner Banojyotsna Lahiri.
Khalid expressed happiness and relief for others who had been granted bail. "'I am really happy for the others who got bail! So relieved,’ Umar said. ‘I’ll come tomorrow for Mulaqat,’ I replied. ‘Good, good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai,’" Banojyotsna posted on X.
The top court refused to grant bail to Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, stating that there was a prima facie case against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria, however, granted bail to activists Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad in the case.
"This court is satisfied that the prosecution material disclosed a prima facie allegation against the appellants Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam... This stage of proceedings does not justify their enlargement on bail," the apex court stated while hearing the bail plea.
Khalid’s father, S.Q.R. Ilyas, expressed disappointment at the court ruling, calling it "unfortunate."
"No comments. It is unfortunate. I have nothing to say. The judgment is there, and I have nothing to say," Ilyas said.
At least 53 people died and over 700 others were injured during the riots in northeast Delhi in February 2020, which erupted amid protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).