After spending more than five years in jail, student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam will learn their fate on Monday, January 5, as the Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict on their bail pleas. The ruling will also cover five other accused named in the alleged &ldquo;larger conspiracy&rdquo; case linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria had reserved its judgment on December 10 after hearing arguments from both the accused and the Delhi Police. The police have opposed bail by invoking stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Sharjeel Imam has been in custody since January 28, 2020, while Umar Khalid was arrested on September 13 the same year. The accused have argued that arrests were carried out in a staggered manner to prolong the alleged conspiracy and delay the start of the trial.
The violence in northeast Delhi erupted in February 2020 after weeks of tension surrounding protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The riots left 53 people dead, hundreds injured, and caused extensive damage to property and places of worship. Delhi Police later described the violence as the result of a coordinated conspiracy and arrested several activists and students under UAPA.
Investigators have cited speeches and protest-related activities as evidence against Khalid and Imam, allegations both have denied. During the December hearings, the Supreme Court questioned whether protest speeches could be brought under the UAPA&rsquo;s definition of a terrorist act.
The bail pleas arise from a September 2, 2025, order of the Delhi High Court, which denied bail to nine accused, calling Khalid and Imam the &ldquo;intellectual architects&rdquo; of the violence. Defence lawyers have countered that selective excerpts from speeches and chats were used to create prejudice.
In recent months, calls for their release have drawn international attention, adding to the significance of the Supreme Court&rsquo;s impending verdict.

Top court to rule on bail pleas in 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case

SC Verdict Today on Umar Khalid, Imam Bail

Top court to rule on bail pleas in 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case

January 5, 2026 | 15:36 IST