Top News

Delhi Karkardooma Court Umar Khalid E-Mulakat: Delhi’s Karkardooma Court, while giving relief to Umar Khalid, accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riot conspiracy case, has ordered to restore the facility of e-meeting (video call) with his family twice a week. The court acknowledged that Umar Khalid had been using the facility regularly for the last six years without violating any prison rule. In such a situation, there is no proper basis available on record for reducing the number of his e-meetings from two to one.

During the hearing, the defense told the court that the number of their weekly video calls had been reduced from May 2026 without giving any clear reason. On this the court directed to restore the earlier system. However, the court also clarified that this relief pertains only to e-meetings. Earlier, the regular bail pleas of Umar Khalid and co-accused Sharjeel Imam in the same case have been rejected. The court had said that the new bail petition can be considered only after the conditions set by the Supreme Court are fulfilled.

Defense raised questions on deduction

The court said that Umar Khalid had been availing the facility of e-visitation twice a week for the last six years without violating any jail rule. In such a situation, there is no proper basis on record for cutting this facility. During the hearing, on behalf of Umar Khalid, his lawyer argued that from May 2026, the number of his e-meetings was reduced from two to one without giving any reason. The defense termed it arbitrary and demanded restoration of the earlier system.

Judicial custody continues in Delhi riot case

After considering the arguments, the court directed to restore the facility of video call (e-meeting) with Umar Khalid’s family twice a week. Let us tell you that Umar Khalid is in judicial custody under various sections including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the North-East Delhi riot conspiracy case of 2020.

In jail for last 6 years

Earlier, the Karkardooma court had rejected the regular bail pleas of Umar Khalid and co-accused Sharjeel Imam in the same case. Both of them had sought bail for the second time, saying that even after the Supreme Court rejected the bail plea on January 5, 2026, there has been no significant progress in the hearing of the case and they have been in jail for the last six years.

Disappointment has already been granted on bail

However, the court had said that the Supreme Court had clarified in its order that both the accused can file a fresh bail petition only after the completion of one year or after the statements of key prosecution witnesses are recorded. Since none of these conditions has yet been fulfilled, the bail plea is not maintainable at this stage.

Court reinstated e-meeting

The court had also said that the legal aspects to bail are being considered by a larger bench of the Supreme Court, hence till the final decision is taken, the lower court cannot give any relief in this regard. Karkardooma Court of Delhi has restored the facility of e-meeting with the family of Umar Khalid twice a week. The court said there was no reasonable basis for cutting the facility.