NEW DELHI: Former JNU researcher and activist Umar Khalid on Wednesday withdrew his bail plea from the Supreme Court in a case related to anti-terror law UAPA over his alleged involvement in the conspiracy behind 2020 Delhi riots, due to "change in circumstances".
On behalf of Khalid, senior advocate Kapil Sibal submitted before a bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal that the application is being withdrawn in view of "change in circumstances".
The counsel said that Khalid will seek bail afresh before the trial court. The apex court allowed Khalid to withdraw his plea.
On several occasions, Khalids bail plea was adjourned by the apex court due to unavailability of his counsel.
Earlier, questions were raised over posting the matter before a bench led by Justice Trivedi.
On May 18, 2023, the court had issued notice to the Delhi Police on the bail petition by Khalid, who was arrested by the Delhi Police on September 13, 2020 and charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly as well as under provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and remained in jail since then.
Khalid had initially moved the Karkardooma Court in March 2022, seeking bail, but it had rejected his bail plea. He had then moved the Delhi High Court challenging it, and it was also rejected by the HC, in October 2022, forcing him to knock the doors of the Supreme Court for relief.
Khalid, a former researcher from JNU, is one of the accused in the larger conspiracy case relating to the 2020 North-East Delhi communal riots case.
In its order on October 18, 2022, the High Court had dismissed the bail plea by Khalid in the case related larger conspiracy in 2020 Delhi riots, "orchestrated" during anti CAA-NRC protests, while drawing "inescapable conclusion" that his involvement in "a priori terrorists acts" are "prima facie true".
A bench of Justices Rajneesh Bhatnagar and Siddharth Mridul had noted that different protected witnesses have stated the role of Khalid and other accused persons with regard to violence, riots, finance and weapons.
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