Umar Khalid Bail Denied by SC in Delhi Riots Case; Girlfriend Banojyotsna Lahiri in Spotlight

• Supreme Court rejected bail for Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi Riots case, citing distinct and more serious roles.
• Five other accused (Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Saleem Khan, Shadab Ahmed) were granted bail with 12 strict conditions.
• Umar Khalid, a JNU alumnus with MA, MPhil, and PhD in History, faces UAPA charges for alleged conspiracy and inciting riots in North-East Delhi in 2020.
• His alleged girlfriend, Banojyotsna Lahiri, a social researcher and JNU PhD, gained attention for her viral post supporting Umar and visiting him in Tihar Jail.
• Khalid's father, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, is the national president of the Welfare Party of India; Umar identifies as a staunch leftist.

Why It Matters: SC denies bail to Umar Khalid in Delhi Riots case, intensifying debate over his alleged role and girlfriend's public support.