SC to decide on Umar Khalid's bail plea in UAPA case on July 24

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would hear on July 24 a plea by former JNU student Umar Khalid seeking bail in a UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the riots here in February 2020.

The Delhi Police sought time to respond to the petition during the hearing before a bench of Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh.

Advocate Rajat Nair, appearing for the Delhi Police, urged the bench to grant him some time to file a counter affidavit in the matter.

"In a bail matter, what counter is to be filed. The man is inside for two years and 10 months," said senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Khalid.

Nair said he is praying for a short time to file counter in the matter.

"The charge sheet is voluminous. It runs into thousands of pages," he said, while requesting the bench to grant them some "reasonable time".

"It should have been ready today," the bench observed and posted the matter for hearing on July 24.

On May 18, the apex court had sought response of the Delhi Police on Khalid's plea.

In his appeal, Khalid has challenged the Delhi High Court order refusing him bail in the case.