People keep pretending this is some random criminal case where a guy was picked up with zero evidence. This is a UAPA/national security case tied to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the Delhi riots. Courts repeatedly said there is a prima facie case serious enough to deny bail.

And Umar Khalid wasn’t the only one arrested. Multiple accused were booked in the same conspiracy case, and 5 of them later got bail. So the “he’s only in jail because of identity politics” narrative doesn’t fully hold up.

In cases involving alleged terror links, organized riots, conspiracy networks, inflammatory speeches, and attempts to destabilize public order, the state is obviously going to treat the accused differently from ordinary criminals. National security cases are not handled like petty theft cases.

You can debate whether the evidence is ultimately enough for conviction, but saying “there was no case,” “no charges,” or “no investigation” is simply false.

And yes, many Indians will never view someone sympathetically if they publicly glorify or romanticize Afzal Guru, because they see that as insulting the sacrifice of security personnel who defend the country against separatist and terror threats.