Last Updated:January 11, 2026, 12:15 IST

On January 5, the court refused bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam but granted bail to five other accused.

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi (PTI Image)

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has blamed the Congress party for Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam not getting bail. He said the strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, under which they were booked, was enacted during a Congress-led government. Owaisi was speaking at a public meeting in the Chandni Chowk area of Amravati in Maharashtra on Saturday, ahead of the January 15 civic elections.

Addressing the gathering, Owaisi accused political parties of misusing the idea of secularism during elections. He said those who speak of secularism only to win votes are in reality enemies of Muslims, Dalits and tribals. 

According to the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), political secularism is used as a tool for electoral gain rather than genuine protection of minority rights.

Supreme Court bail denial to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam 

Owaisi referred to the Supreme Court’s recent decision in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. On January 5, the court refused bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam but granted bail to five other accused, citing a “hierarchy of participation”. He said Khalid and Imam were denied bail based on Section 15A of the UAPA, which deals with the definition of terrorist acts.

He pointed out that both activists have been in jail for nearly five years. According to Owaisi, the law’s strict provisions make it extremely difficult for those charged under it to secure bail, regardless of how long they remain behind bars.

What Owaisi said on UAPA and Congress’ role?

Owaisi said the UAPA was introduced by then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram during the Congress-led regime. He claimed that he was the only Member of Parliament who opposed the law at the time. He warned Parliament then that the law would be misused by the police against Muslims, tribals, Dalits and intellectuals who oppose government policies.

“You can see what has happened today,” Owaisi said. “These two children could not get bail because of the definition of terrorism in that law.” He argued that the broad wording of the Act allows authorities to keep accused persons in jail for long periods without trial.

Owaisi also mentioned the case of 85-year-old tribal rights activist Stan Swamy, who was accused in the Elgar Parishad case and later died in jail. He said Swamy’s death showed how the law has harmed innocent lives. According to Owaisi, Khalid and Imam continue to suffer because of the same legal framework.

He further accused the Congress of supporting the BJP government when the UAPA was amended in 2019. Owaisi said these amendments have made the law even harsher and are now being used to destroy lives.

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