The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Salim Malik in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in the northeastern parts of the national capital.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that a Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain delivered the order on Salim Malik’s appeal, which challenged a trial court’s decision from January 29 that had previously denied him bail.
During the proceedings, Malik’s legal counsel contended that he was eligible for bail, citing the Supreme Court’s decision to grant similar relief to identically placed co-accused, Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed. The defence highlighted that Malik’s circumstances were comparable to those who had already received bail from the apex court.
Salim Malik was charged under the UAPA, a stringent anti-terror law, for his alleged involvement as one of the masterminds of the February 2020 riots. The violence, which erupted during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), resulted in the deaths of 53 people and left over 700 individuals injured.
The accused was arrested in June 2020 and is among the eleven individuals identified as alleged organisers and speakers at an anti-CAA/NRC meeting that preceded the riots. The prosecution had argued for his continued detention, pointing to his alleged role in orchestrating the violence.
This development follows earlier significant rulings by the Supreme Court in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. On January 5, the apex court had granted bail to five accused persons: Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammad Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad. These individuals were also facing charges within the broader investigation into the riots.
However, the Supreme Court had, on the same day, denied bail to prominent activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The apex court had clarified that not all accused in the case stood on the same footing, indicating differing levels of involvement or evidence against various individuals. This distinction was a key factor in the denial of bail for Khalid and Imam.
Further judicial proceedings related to bail applications in the same case saw a Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur denying bail to Imam, Khalid, Haider, and other co-accused on September 2, 2025. The court had examined the evidence presented against each applicant before reaching its conclusions.
The legal battles surrounding the 2020 Delhi riots continue, with numerous individuals facing charges under various sections of the law, including the UAPA. The High Court’s decision to grant bail to Salim Malik underscores the ongoing judicial review of bail applications, often considering the parity of grounds with previously released co-accused and the overall duration of pre-trial detention.
The riots, which lasted for several days, were a complex event with deep political and social undercurrents, stemming from widespread protests against the CAA and proposed NRC. The subsequent investigation has led to a large number of arrests and a protracted legal process involving multiple courts.
The granting of bail does not signify an acquittal but rather suggests that the court believes the accused can be released pending trial, with conditions often imposed to ensure their appearance in court and prevent further offenses. The case against Salim Malik and others accused in the conspiracy will continue through the trial process.
The Chenab Times News Desk