Did not make calls for violence: Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima tell Supreme Court
Activists assert exercising right to peaceful protests, deny connection to 2020 North East Delhi riots
Activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and Gulfisha Fatima, currently jailed in connection with a larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 North East Delhi riots, told the Supreme Court that they never called for violence, but were engaged in peaceful protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Khalid’s counsel emphasized that he was not even in Delhi when the riots occurred, questioning how he could be linked to the violence.
Imam’s lawyer argued that he only advocated peaceful blockades and abhorred violence. Gulfisha Fatima’s counsel submitted there was no evidence of any violent acts at protest sites she helped organize.
The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria highlighted the prolonged delay in trial proceedings, with Fatima being imprisoned for over five years as an undertrial. Senior Advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Kapil Sibal, and Siddhartha Dave appearing for the accused pointed out the prosecution’s delay tactics and lack of evidence connecting the activists to the riots or violence.
The Supreme Court is continuing hearings on the bail pleas, with the next session scheduled for November 3, 2025. The case stems from extensive allegations of criminal conspiracy and unlawful assembly surrounding the riots, with multiple FIRs filed, and most accused in custody since 2020.