A Delhi court on Thursday granted interim bail to Umar Khalid, the former JNU scholar and political activist who has been incarcerated under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), among other charges, for his alleged role in a larger conspiracy related to the 2020 Delhi riots, according to LiveLaw. 

This is separate from the regular bail matter which the Supreme Court is yet to deliver its verdict on. The Supreme Court had Wednesday reserved its verdict in the regular bail plea filed by Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and others accused in the larger conspiracy case. It’s expected to deliver its order later this month.

Khalid has been granted bail for the period between December 16 and December 29 to attend his sister's wedding. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai at the Karkardooma Courts granted Khalid interim bail upon furnishing a Rs 20,000 personal bond along with two sureties of an equivalent amount. As part of his bail conditions, the judge reportedly directed Khalid not to make contact with anyone in connection with the case, while asking him to furnish his mobile number to the investigating officer and keep it on till the interim bail period concludes.  

Khalid has been directed to surrender before the Superintendent of Prison of the concerned jail in the evening of December 29. Khalid had received a seven-day interim bail last December for attending another wedding in the family. He was similarly granted interim bail in December 2022 as well. 

The Delhi High Court denied Khalid bail in October 2022, following which he approached the Supreme Court but later withdrew his SLP.