UAPA charge

6 Mar 2020

In power

BJP — Delhi Police

Acted

Police, Delhi

Under

FIR 59/2020, initially under sections 147, 148, 149 and 120B IPC; UAPA sections added later

On 6 March 2020 the Delhi Police Crime Branch registered FIR 59/2020. It alleges that the communal riots in north-east Delhi on 23 to 25 February 2020 were the result of a pre-planned conspiracy by JNU student Umar Khalid and associates, including road blockades by women and children near anti-CAA protest sites. Offences under the UAPA were added later, and students and protest organisers were charged. The accused deny the allegations; Natasha Narwal's counsel, for example, said she took part in the sit-in protests but was not involved in any violent protest. On 15 June 2021 the Delhi High Court granted Narwal bail, holding that the charge-sheet did not prima facie show offences under sections 15, 17 or 18 of the UAPA, and said that 'in its anxiety to suppress dissent', the line between the right to protest and terrorist activity seemed to be getting blurred in the mind of the State. On 18 June 2021 the Supreme Court directed that the High Court's judgment not be treated as a precedent, without interfering with the bail. On 5 January 2026 the Supreme Court refused bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, finding that the prosecution material prima facie attributed to them a central role in the alleged conspiracy, and granted bail to five other accused. [3][1][2]

Court: On 15 June 2021 the Delhi High Court granted bail to Natasha Narwal and held that no UAPA offence was prima facie made out against her. [1]

Court: On 18 June 2021 the Supreme Court said the High Court judgment was not to be treated as a precedent, and did not interfere with the bail. [2]

Court: On 5 January 2026 the Supreme Court refused bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam and granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed. [3]

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