NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices on the bail pleas of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Meeran Haider, and Gulfisha Fatima -- all accused in the 2020 Delhi riots "larger conspiracy case" and booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria sought a response from the Delhi Police and posted the matter for hearing on October 7.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the petitioners, submitted that the student activists have been languishing in jail for the last five years. He added that an application for interim bail had also been filed on the petitioners’ behalf.
At this, the Justice Aravind Kumar-led Bench remarked that the apex court will expeditiously dispose of the main matter itself.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, urging for an earlier date, submitted: "(List) before Diwali, so that they can be out by Diwali. They have all been there for more than five years."
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had denied bail to several activists and student leaders in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy behind the Delhi riots.