In a first reaction to the Supreme Court's refusal to grant him bail, 2020 Delhi riots accused Umar Khalid said that he was happy and relieved for others who got bail, adding that jail is his life now, his partner Banojyotsna Lahiri quoted him as saying.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant bail to him and another accused, Sharjeel Imam, in the conspiracy matter, saying there was a prima facie case against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

However, the apex court did grant bail to other accused, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad in the case.

Lahiri took to X, to share his conversation with Khali,d where the accused told her that he was happy for others. When Lahiri said she would go to meet him the next day, Khalid replied,

She wrote: "I am really happy for the others, who got bail! So relieved, Umar said."Good, good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai."

The riots that took place in February 2020 left over 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.

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While refusing to grant bail, the Court strongly observed that a delay in trial does not operate as a "trump card" which automatically displaces statutory safeguards.

The top court cited serious charges against them and noted that all the applicants could not stand on equal footing.

The court also emphasised that the Delhi Police had provided sufficient material that indicates the involvement of Khalid and Imam in the conspiracy.

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The accused had reached the Supreme Court after their bail was denied by the Delhi High Court. The top court bench, led by Justice Aravind Kumar, observed that they had examined each application separately as per their involvement in the case.

"It becomes necessary to examine each appeal independently. The record discloses that all the appellants do not stand on equal footing as regards culpability. The hierarchy of participation requires the court to assess each application individually," the court stated, reported Bar And Bench.

(With PTI Inputs)