Delhi Riots: Court Grants Interim Bail To Khalid Saifi For Family Wedding & Ramzan With Strict Curbs

Last Updated:January 31, 2026, 17:56 IST

Khalid Saifi has been in judicial custody since February 2020. He is a primary accused in FIR 59/2020, often referred to as the 'larger conspiracy case'

The interim bail comes as the 'larger conspiracy' trial continues to face substantial delays. Representational image

A Delhi court has granted 13-day interim bail to Khalid Saifi, an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case. The relief was provided to allow Saifi, the founder of the advocacy group United Against Hate, to attend the wedding of his nephews and spend time with his family during the upcoming holy month of Ramzan.

Conditions of the Release

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Court allowed the temporary release from February 6 to 18. While granting the relief, the court imposed a series of stringent conditions to ensure the integrity of the ongoing legal proceedings. Saifi has been prohibited from:

Leaving the National Capital Region (NCR): He must remain within the designated territory for the duration of his bail.

Witness Interference: He is strictly barred from contacting any prosecution witnesses or persons related to the case.

Public and Digital Presence: The court has placed a total embargo on Saifi’s interaction with the media and his use of social media. He is forbidden from posting any material or participating in any online activity during this period.

The bail was granted on the furnishing of a personal bond of Rs 20,000 along with two sureties of the same amount.

Legal Context and Charges

Khalid Saifi has been in judicial custody since February 2020. He is a primary accused in FIR 59/2020, often referred to as the “larger conspiracy case", which is being investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The prosecution alleges that Saifi participated in secret meetings to coordinate the funding of weapons and facilitated the anti-CAA protests that eventually spiralled into communal violence. Investigators further claim he instructed protesters to disable CCTV cameras and organised a “celebratory" meeting to coordinate a cover-up following the riots. Saifi’s defence has consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that his activism was limited to peaceful dissent.

Trial Stalemate

The interim bail comes as the “larger conspiracy" trial continues to face substantial delays. More than five years after the riots—which left 53 dead and hundreds injured—the case remains at the stage of “arguments on charge". With nearly 900 witnesses listed by the prosecution, legal observers suggest a final verdict remains years away. While five co-accused were granted regular bail by the Supreme Court earlier this month, Saifi, alongside Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, remains in custody as the judiciary continues to weigh the gravity of their alleged roles.

News cities Delhi Riots: Court Grants Interim Bail To Khalid Saifi For Family Wedding & Ramzan With Strict Curbs

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