The Delhi High Court on Friday granted interim bail to Mohd. Salim Khan, an undertrial prisoner in the UAPA case alleging a larger conspiracy in the 2020 northeast Delhi violence.
A division bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur ordered Khan’s release on interim bail for 10 days in order to permit him to arrange funds for payment of academic fees of his daughter who is pursuing law from Jamia Hamdard University, Live Law reported.
Khan’s counsel told Court that he has previously been granted interim bail on multiple occasions and had never misused the relief.
Khan’s counsel said that interim bail was required so that he can sell stocks worth Rs. 16 lakh of the business he was doing prior to his arrest in the case and that he needed Rs. 1.75 lakh to ensure that his daughter is able to give her law exams in April, according to Live Law.
“I’ll sell the stocks and make FDR. I am only seeking interim bail for two weeks. I’ll get out, sell the stocks. I have been inside for around five years. My bail is pending before this court,” Khan said.
Granting the relief, the Bench noted that Khan has been in custody since 2020 and has been granted interim bail four times in 2023 and 2024.
The Court directed Khan to furnish a personal bond of Rs. 20,000 and one surely of like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court.
Saleem Khan, an exporter of shawls and scarves was arrested on 13 March, 2020 – he was named in three FIRs registered by the Delhi police.
FIR No. 60/20 – related to the killing of Head Constable Ratan Lal.
FIR No. 136/20 – related to vandalising a car showroom and setting it on fire.
FIR No. 59/20 – accused in UAPA – Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Khan was granted bail in FIR No – 60/20 and 136/20 – but he remains in jail under FIR No. 59/20 of UAPA.
Along with Saleem Khan, Human rights activist Khalid Saifi, Student leaders Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Safoora Zargar, Meeran Haider and several others are also incarcerated in the same case. Delhi police accuse them of being the mastermind of violence that killed at least 54 people, mostly Muslims.
