They Are Anti-Nationals, Not Intellectuals: Delhi Police To Supreme Court In Sharjeel Imam / Umar Khalid Bail Pleas

The Delhi Police, in its response to the Supreme Court on bail pleas filed by Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, characterized them not as intellectual dissenters but “anti-nationals.” The submission reflects a starkly political framing of criminal proceedings involving speech, protest, and activism. The case captures tensions between national security, freedom of expression, and the judiciary’s role in adjudicating bail in politically sensitive cases, with the Police pushing for stricter conditions, and the Court weighing fundamental rights against state interests.