Precious metal prices have risen after the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro increased investors' concerns about geopolitical risks. In Monday morning trade in Asia, gold was about 1.8% higher at around $4,408 (£3,282) an ounce, while silver was up close to 3.5%
On December 18, Deepika Padukone hosted a special fan meet, celebrating not just Christmas but also her 40th birthday with her fans. Pictures and videos from the event last month have now flooded social media, on the actress' birthday. The Bollywood star went all out, arranging flight tickets
Kapil Dev, PGTI President, has not decided on Bangladeshi players participating in the tour. He spoke about a new team-based golf league, '72 The League'. This initiative aims to boost golf's growth in India. The league seeks to introduce team dynamics, similar to cricket's IPL. The first franchise
The Trump administration is facing renewed scrutiny following the dramatic US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. This action has revived criticism over President Donald Trump's decision last year to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando
The incidence comes as an unexpected surprise to many taxpayers since many of them had not received any notice or were unaware of the assessment orders at the time. New Delhi: Income tax demands from the previous years such as 2005 to 2011 have unexpectedly started to appear on the income tax
No bail for Indian activists after five years in jail without trial
No bail for Indian activists after five years in jail without trial
Two prominent student activists in India have been denied bail after being held in prison for more than five years without trial.
India's Supreme Court on Monday rejected pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who were arrested after the 2020 Delhi riots.
Police accused them of conspiracy to incite deadly clashes in the capital that killed 53 people, mostly Muslims. They were held under strict anti-terror laws that make bail difficult. They denied the charges and unsuccessfully applied for bail in courts over the years.
The court, however, granted bail to five other activists who were also arrested in the same case.
The riots occurred amid months-long protests against a citizenship law that the United Nations called "fundamentally discriminatory".
In its order on Monday morning, the two-judge bench said the bail petitions of all the seven accused had to be examined individually since they were not on "equal footing as regards culpability", reported legal website Bar and Bench.
The judges said they were making a distinction between the charges that were levelled against Khalid and Imam from the others while denying them bail.
The court added that the petitioners could apply for bail again only after one year.
Khalid completed his PhD in 2019 from Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. Imam was a doctoral scholar at the time of his arrest at the same university. Both men are 37.
The case of the jailed activists has attracted a lot of attention in India and globally.
In October 2022, a former Supreme Court judge, three retired high court judges and a former federal home secretary wrote in a report on the riots that they found no substantiating evidence to warrant the imposition of terrorism charges against the activists.
Just last week, a group of US Congressmen and Senators wrote a letter to the Indian ambassador in Washington expressing "continued concern" over the activists' "prolonged pre-trial detention".
The activists have so far been unable to get bail as they are charged with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA - a stringent anti-terror law that makes it exceptionally challenging to get bail and often results in years of detention until trial concludes.
Khalid's bail pleas have been rejected on at least five separate occasions in different courts over the past five years. He was granted two short outings in 2024 and 2025 to attend weddings in his family. Imam's bail pleas have been rejected at least twice before.
The five activists who were granted bail on Monday include Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Mohd Samir Khan, Shadab Ahmed and Shifa ur Rehman.
Ms Fatima, 32, is a business administration graduate from Delhi University, while the others are human rights activists who protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Khalid, Imam and the others had approached the Supreme Court in September 2025 after being denied bail by the Delhi high court.
The activists told the court they had spent more than five years in jail without any evidence proving their involvement in the violence, arguing that their continued detention amounted to "punishment without trial".
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Akshaye Khanna is first Indian actor after SRK to gross ₹2000 crore in a year US Senator Says Venezuela’s Maduro Will Face Trial On Criminal Charges Social harmony intrinsic to Indian society SC to pronounce verdict on bail pleas of Umar Khalid Minissha Lamba Reflects On Life After Five Years Of Vegetarian Eating Kareena Kapoor’s nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar shares ‘Indian winter foods’ Amitabh Bachchan lauds his makeup man of 50 years on KBC 17 Bus driver to Venezuela's ruler for over 13 years Kareena Kapoor’s Nutritionist Reveals Indian Winter Foods That Build Warmth Mahhi Vij–Jay Bhanushali Announce Separation After 14 Years
India became the world's second-largest mobile phone producer, with more than 99 per cent of phones sold domestically now Made in India. New Delhi: US tech giant Apple achieved a major milestone under India's smartphone production‑linked incentive (PLI) scheme
1 minutes ago
A rare and unusual case has surfaced at BRD Medical College, where an MBBS student from the 2014 batch has remained stuck in the first year for more than a decade. With no clear provision to deal with such a situation, the college administration has now approached the National Medical Commission
1 minutes ago
America now commands a vast oil empire. From Alaska to Patagonia, Washington influences nearly 40% of global oil output. This control offers significant economic and geopolitical leverage. Venezuela's immense reserves, once untapped, are now within reach
1 minutes ago
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) on Monday launched a sharp attack on the ruling DMK, accusing it of promoting “dynasty politics" and questioning whether there was “no one beyond the Karunanidhi family" in the party. Speaking in Veerapandi
1 minutes ago
The Union Government plans to liberalise the country's open schooling framework, introduce guidelines to encourage the use of artificial intelligence in teaching, and draft technical education standards focussed on ensuring employment and entrepreneurship for graduates
1 minutes ago
Free Legal Help Service On WhatsApp: The Nyaya Setu Chatbot provides round-the-clock legal assistance directly on WhatsApp, removing the need to visit a lawyer's office. Free Legal Help Service On WhatsApp: The Indian government has launched a new initiative, the Nyaya Setu Chatbot
1 minutes ago
US action in Venezuela is unlikely to impact India, as oil imports are minimal and easing sanctions could even benefit Indian firms US President Donald Trump has jolted global markets after ordering airstrikes on Venezuela and detaining President Nicolás Maduro on charges related to
1 minutes ago
If there's one accessory that instantly says Lohri-ready, it's a phulkari dupatta. Vibrant, rooted in Punjab's rich textile heritage, and endlessly versatile, phulkari dupattas have quietly evolved from heirloom pieces to modern festive essentials. For lohri 2026, they're not just an add-on
1 minutes ago
Amid worsening air quality in the capital, AAP MLAs staged a protest inside the Delhi Assembly, demanding urgent action as AQI levels stayed in the poor to very poor range. New Delhi: MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest inside the Delhi Assembly premises on Monday
1 minutes ago
A series of cyber fraud complaints has brought fresh attention to online investment scams in Visakhapatnam, where eight people reported losing more than Rs. 3.5 crore over the past two days. The victims, who come from different parts of the city
1 minutes ago
United States Senator Lindsey Graham on Sunday quoted the Indian ambassador as having told him in a private conversation that India was buying less Russian oil, and had urged him to request US President Donald Trump to relax tariffs linked to such imports
1 minutes ago
Rohit Sharma's calm but firm response to misbehaving fans has sparked a viral debate on celebrity boundaries, fan culture, and respect for Indian cricket's biggest icon. Rohit Sharma, India's most decorated modern-day cricketer, found himself at the centre of a viral moment not for a century or a
1 minutes ago
Venezuela: In most countries, used cars are cheaper than new vehicles. But in Venezuela, owning even an old, second-hand car is a luxury. Venezuela: In most countries, used cars are cheaper than new vehicles. But in Venezuela, owning even an old, second-hand car is a luxury
1 minutes ago
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping as he seeks to reset frayed ties with his country's biggest trading partner. Regional security and Beijing's unofficial ban on Korean pop culture are also on the agenda for Monday's meeting
1 minutes ago
Laurent Mekies has made one thing very clear: Isack Hadjar's promotion to Red Bull is not a reward, it's a challenge. As the 21-year-old Frenchman prepares to step up from Racing Bulls to partner Max Verstappen in 2026, Red Bull's expectations are rooted firmly in growth
1 minutes ago
Umar Khalid Bail: In the video, Imam is allegedly heard making remarks about cutting off Assam and the Northeast from India by blocking supplies through the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chicken's Neck. Umar Khalid Bail: The Supreme Court on January 5, 2026
1 minutes ago
Long before food became something to hashtag or photograph, it was something to be presented. Across ancient civilisations, meals were meant to nourish and signal abundance, ritual, care and status. While food is wrapped with leaves today for aesthetics, in the bygone era
1 minutes ago
Aries: The forthcoming week will help crystallise your feelings; you will know how to seek true love. And if you are single, someone real will possibly approach you. If not, then opening up will be how you build your love. It is good to speak from your heart at all times
1 minutes ago
Few desserts enjoy the kind of global love tiramisu does. This Italian dish has become a global favourite for its coffee-soaked layers paired with rich creamy texture and cocoa dusting. This dish has largely remained untouched until now. A recent video doing the rounds online shows a version of
1 minutes ago
Tarot Card Reading Horoscope Today For January 5: Step into the mystical realm as the tarot cards reveal what the universe has in store for you today. Whether you're seeking clarity in love, career, or personal growth, today's tarot insights offer powerful guidance tailored to your zodiac sign
1 minutes ago
Biryani has a special place in the hearts of food lovers in India and a young boy from Kolkata has proved just that. A short video now going viral online shows a little child walking into his home with a food packet, excitedly repeating the word biryani
1 minutes ago
Instagram is all about photos, videos and reels but the AI era is going to make content identification a big challenge, something that its chief, Adam Mosseri is worried about. AI-generated content made using advanced tools are getting close to the real videos
1 minutes ago
After veteran actor Dharmendra's death on November 24, two separate prayer meets were organised in his memory—one by Hema Malini and her daughters at her Mumbai residence, and another by sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, which was attended by several stars from the film industry
1 minutes ago
A former Philippine Air Force General accused of encouraging the military to abandon President Ferdinand Marcos was arrested on a charge of sedition on Monday (January 5, 2026) at Manila's international airport. Romeo Poquiz, who had publicly called for the armed forces to "withdraw their support"
1 minutes ago
Eva Schloss, the Auschwitz survivor who dedicated decades to educating people about the Holocaust and was the step-sister of diarist Anne Frank, has died aged 96, her foundation announced on Sunday (January 4, 2026). In a tribute, her family expressed their “great sadness” at the loss
1 minutes ago
Suspense has shrouded Venezuela's politics following US-led strikes in the country and President Nicolas Maduro's capture by American forces. Amid ambiguity over the election schedule in the country, a Washington Post report said on Sunday that US President Donald Trump was not too keen on
1 minutes ago
India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. IndiGo and Air India, which together hold over 90% of the market, have ordered nearly 1,500 planes over the next decade, highlighting soaring passenger demand. This expansion hinges on Boeing and Airbus
1 minutes ago
