Delhi Riots Case: Activist Khalid Saifi Granted 10-Day Interim Bail to Attend to Ailing Son

By Amit Kumar

Khalid Saifi, an activist and co-accused in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, has been granted a 10-
day interim bail by a Delhi court to be with his younger son, who is currently unwell and hospitalized.
The bail was approved by the Karkardooma Court after Saifi’s legal counsel requested a temporary
release of 15 days, citing medical emergencies at home. The court, however, granted 10 days of
relief.
Saifi has spent over five years in prison, charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
(UAPA) in connection with the Northeast Delhi riots that erupted in February 2020. The violence
followed months of widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a law passed
by the central government in 2019. These protests, which were largely peaceful demonstrations
featuring sit-ins and blockades, were disrupted by the outbreak of communal clashes and the
ensuing pandemic lockdown.
The case against Saifi and 17 others, including prominent names such as Umar Khalid, Devangana
Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Safoora Zargar, and Sharjeel Imam, falls under FIR 59/2020.
Authorities allege that these individuals were part of a larger conspiracy that culminated in the
violence. All have been booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Despite more than five years having passed since their arrests, the judicial process has been slow. As
of August 2025, “charges are yet to be framed” in the case, raising questions about procedural delays
and prolonged incarceration without trial. Meanwhile, The bail petitions of the accused remain
frozen in Delhi’s courts for nearly five years.