Delhi HC grants Umar Khalid 3 day interim bail for mother’s surgery

The Delhi High Court on Friday granted three-day interim bail to Umar Khalid in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, taking an “empathetic view” in light of his mother’s medical surgery and a family religious observance.

The Court permitted Khalid to be released from 7 am on June 1 until 5 pm on June 3 to attend to his ailing mother during her surgery and to participate in the Chehlum ritual of his late uncle.

As part of the interim relief, the Court directed Khalid to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. He has also been instructed to remain within the National Capital Region (NCR), stay at his residence, and travel only to the hospital during the bail period.

While granting the temporary relief, the Bench noted that Khalid had previously been granted interim bail for family ceremonies and had complied with all conditions imposed by the Court on earlier occasions.

At the same time, the Court observed that Khalid is “one of the key conspirators” in the case linked to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots. Despite this observation, the Bench said the humanitarian circumstances surrounding his mother’s medical condition and the family ritual justified limited interim bail.

Khalid has been in custody since September 2020 under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the riots conspiracy case investigated by the Delhi Police. The case pertains to allegations of a larger conspiracy behind the communal violence that erupted in Northeast Delhi in February 2020, leaving more than 50 people dead and hundreds injured.