A Delhi court on Wednesday granted interim bail to human rights activist Umar Khalid in the Delhi pogrom larger conspiracy case to attend a family marriage. Interim bail was granted for seven days.
His regular bail plea is currently pending before the Delhi High Court.
Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma court granted Khalid relief from December 28 to January 3 to attend his cousin’s wedding. Khalid was directed to furnish a personal bond of ₹20,000 along with two sureties of the same amount.
According to Bar and Bench, the student leader was directed not to use social media or contact any witnesses or any person in connection with the case. He is restricted to meeting only family members, relatives and friends.
Khalid should remain at his house or at places where marriage ceremonies and functions are slated to take place, the Court directed.
The former JNU student was arrested in September 2020 and charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly as well as several other offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The UAPA case has been widely criticised by civil societies and human rights groups, labelling it a crackdown on dissent against the ruling government’s policies.
Khalid’s bail plea before the Supreme Court was adjourned 14 times before he withdrew it earlier this year, sparking criticism. On May 28, the trial court rejected his second bail petition leading to the present appeal before the High Court.
Umar Khalid has sought bail, saying that he had no role in the violence nor any “conspiratorial connect” with other persons accused in the Delhi pogrom case.
