SC Denies Bail to Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid in Delhi Riots Case; UAPA 43D(5) Cited

• The Supreme Court rejected bail petitions for Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid in the Delhi riots case, citing UAPA Section 43D(5).
• UAPA 43D(5) makes bail an exception, not a rule, if a "prima facie" case is established based on initial evidence like chargesheet or case diary.
• Both accused cannot file new bail petitions for one year unless new grounds emerge from trial proceedings.
• A bench of Justice Arvind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria delivered the verdict, while 5 other accused were granted bail.
• Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020, accused of conspiring in the February 2020 Delhi riots, which the Solicitor General called a "well-planned conspiracy."

Why It Matters: UAPA 43D(5) remains a significant hurdle for bail in terror-related cases, as seen in the Delhi riots case.