The Supreme Court on Thursday heard arguments on the bail pleas of former JNU student leaders Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, along with several others accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria took up the matter, with senior advocate Siddharth Luthra presenting arguments on behalf of accused Shadab Ahmed, who has been in custody for over five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Luthra told the bench that organising or participating in a protest cannot be treated as a criminal act, and that the charges against Ahmed were based on weak and circumstantial evidence.

“The witnesses claim they saw or heard him at protests or at a biryani stall discussing the so-called conspiracy. Even if that’s accept

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