Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam are ‘masterminds’, detention justified, Delhi Police tells HC in bail pleas in 2020 riots larger conspiracy case

Delhi Police maintains that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam are the "masterminds" behind the 2020 riots larger conspiracy case, justifying their continued detention. Responding to the two activists' bail pleas, the police referred to the Supreme Court's January judgment, which denied bail to Khalid and Imam but granted it to five others in the case.

The SC established a hierarchy of involvement, placing Khalid and Imam in a higher category than the other five accused. The Delhi Police argues that the conditions laid out by the SC for granting bail - examination of protected witnesses or a one-year timeframe - have not been met, as no charges have been filed yet. The SC's January order classified Khalid and Imam as being on a "higher footing" compared to the five others who received bail, but a subsequent May judgment expressed concerns about the January verdict.

Both Khalid and Imam are now seeking bail under terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, despite the pending reference to a larger bench for further deliberation. The Delhi Police asserts that this reference does not alter the existing SC decision, which remains binding until the reference is decided.