Delhi Police’s Denial of Bail to Activists in Delhi Riot Case

• Delhi police opposed bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others in the 2020 north-east Delhi riots case.

• Khalid was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and jailed pending trial.

• The denial of bail reveals the broken nature of India’s criminal justice system.

• The mini-trial model allows one side to fight freestyle, while the other follows the Marquis of Queensberry Rules.

• Defense cannot cross-examine prosecution’s witnesses, examine its own witnesses, present its own evidence, or prove the case against the accused hasn’t been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

• The outcome of the bail hearing is the outcome of the case itself, leading to absurd situations like Khalid’s bail order