The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a review petition filed by activist Umar Khalid, seeking a reconsideration of the court's earlier order denying him bail. Khalid is an accused in a larger conspiracy case related to the communal violence that occurred in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
The review plea was directed at an October 2022 judgment by a bench of Justices S. K. Kaul and A. S. Oka, which had upheld the Delhi High Court's decision to deny him bail. The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal, dismissed the review petition on April 9, 2024, finding no error in the earlier judgment.
Khalid has been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution alleges he was part of a larger conspiracy behind the riots. He has been in judicial custody since September 2020.
The dismissal of the review petition means the earlier bail denial stands. Khalid's legal team may now consider filing a curative petition, which is the final judicial remedy available in the Supreme Court.
