SC Denies Bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in Delhi Riots Case

• Supreme Court rejected bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case.
• Court found prima facie evidence against them under stringent UAPA, citing their distinct and serious roles.
• Five other accused (Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rahman, Mohammad Saleem Khan, Shadab Ahmed) granted bail with strict conditions.
• SC stated prolonged detention is not a sole ground for bail under UAPA, and delay cannot be a 'trump card'.
• 'Terrorist acts' under UAPA include disrupting essential services, not just direct violence, justifying the court's stance.

Why It Matters: SC denied bail to Khalid and Imam due to prima facie UAPA evidence and their central roles in Delhi riots.