Overview

• Khalid has filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the September 2 Delhi High Court order denying him bail in the alleged larger conspiracy case tied to the February 2020 northeast Delhi violence.
• The High Court rejected bail for nine accused, including Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, on September 2, while a separate bench the same day dismissed the plea of co-accused Tasleem Ahmed.
• In its ruling, the High Court said the right to protest is subject to reasonable restrictions and, prima facie, described the roles of Khalid and Imam as grave based on alleged inflammatory speeches and the timing of events during the US president’s visit.
• Co-accused Sharjeel Imam and Gulfisha Fatima have already approached the Supreme Court challenging the same High Court order.
• Khalid and others, who have been in custody since 2020, deny the allegations and cite prolonged pretrial detention, as trial court arguments continue even while police maintain the riots were a planned conspiracy that left 53 dead and over 700 injured.