Activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam moved fresh bail applications in the Supreme Court on Thursday. They argued that their prolonged detention violates fundamental rights, as over 900 witnesses are yet to testify in the 2020 Delhi riots case. They said continued imprisonment is unfair since the trial takes time.
Over 900 witnesses, including 47 protected ones, are yet to testify; they argue continued custody violates their fundamental right to life and liberty under Article 21
Activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam on Thursday moved fresh bail applications in the Supreme Court, citing continued delay in examining witnesses and prolonged incarceration.
Khalid and Imam, key accused in a 2020 Delhi riots case, have challenged the rejection of their bail applications by Delhi High Court on September 30.
In their separate bail applications, they have contended that they had been in jail for six years and nine months and that over 900 witnesses were yet to be examined, including 47 protected witnesses. The trial would take time, they pointed out.
They submitted that according to the Supreme Court's January 5 order, they were entitled to approach the court for bail after a year. Khalid and Imam said that since there was no likelihood of the trial concluding in the near future, their continued imprisonment as undertrials violated their fundamental right to life and liberty
under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The pleas are yet to be listed for hearing.