Overview
- Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai issued release orders after verifying bonds and sureties, leading to the exits from Tihar of Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa Ur Rehman, Meeran Haider and Mohd Saleem Khan, with Shadab Ahmed’s release order following on January 8.
- The Supreme Court’s bail for the five carries strict terms, including a Rs 2 lakh personal bond, two local sureties of like sum, and prohibitions on attending public meetings or circulating posters and digital campaign material.
- On January 5, the Supreme Court refused bail to Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, citing a prima facie UAPA case, and allowed them to seek bail again after protected witnesses are examined or after one year.
- Concluding his arguments on charge framing, Imam’s counsel said there was no mentor–protégé relationship with Khalid, asserted that Imam advocated non-violence, and claimed he stepped away from protests by January 2, 2020 and was arrested on January 28.
- Delhi Police allege a larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 violence that killed 53 and injured more than 700, and reporting indicates 11 of the 18 initially arrested have secured bail so far.