Delhi Court Restores Weekly Video Meetings for Umar Khalid
In a recent ruling, the Karkardooma Court in Delhi has reinstated the privilege for Umar Khalid, a key figure in the ongoing conspiracy case concerning the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, to engage in two weekly video calls with his family. This decision was articulated in an order issued on July 13 by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai.
The court order highlights that Khalid has been utilizing two e-mulakats per week for the past six years without infringing any provisions under the Delhi Prisons Rule. Judge Bajpai noted, “Since the applicant [Khalid] has been using two e-mulakats in a week for the last six years and has not violated any rule of the Delhi Prisons Rule, the applicant is allowed to have two e-mulakats per week for the purpose of talking to his mother and other family members.”
Umar Khalid has been incarcerated for six years in relation to allegations tied to the orchestrated violence during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. Khalid’s defense argued that he had consistently availed himself of this communication facility over the years. However, as of May 2026, this arrangement was unexpectedly reduced to a single e-mulakat weekly.
In response to this abrupt change, Khalid petitioned the court to restore his second weekly e-mulakat, emphasizing the importance of maintaining regular contact with his family. Conceding to this appeal, the court ordered the reinstatement of Khalid’s right to two e-mulakats each week, thereby allowing him to continue communication with his family members.
This ruling underscores the court’s recognition of the significance of maintaining family connections for individuals in custody, aligning with the broader principles outlined in the Delhi Prisons Rule.
