‘Jail Is My Life Now’; Umar Khalid Responds After Supreme Court Denies Bail

New Delhi: After the Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant him bail, activist Umar Khalid remarked that prison has now become his life, even as he expressed relief that several of his co-accused had secured bail in the case.

Khalid’s partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri, shared his reaction on social media platform X following the court’s order. Quoting him, she said Khalid was genuinely happy for those who were granted bail. “I am really happy for the others who got bail. So relieved,” he told her.

Banojyotsna added that when she informed Khalid she would come to meet him the next day, he replied, “Good, good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai.”

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to grant bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, observing that a prima facie case existed against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). At the same time, the apex court granted bail to five other accused — Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad.

The case relates to the violence that erupted in parts of northeast Delhi in February 2020. The police have maintained that the incidents were part of a larger conspiracy, leading to the arrest of several activists and students.

Sharjeel Imam was first arrested in January 2020 in connection with speeches made during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, and was later arrested in the conspiracy case in August that year. Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020. All the accused were booked under provisions of the UAPA and the Indian Penal Code.