Why the Supreme Court’s Bail Ruling in the Delhi Riots Case Raises Legal Concerns

The Supreme Court has granted bail to five people accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case but refused bail to two, Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The court said these two played a more central or “higher” role in the events leading to the violence, and based on that, should remain in jail. But this distinction, between so-called leaders and others, is deeply concerning, as it assigns degrees of guilt before a trial has even begun.