New Delhi, Jan 05: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant bail to student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the alleged “larger conspiracy” case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots.

Pronouncing the judgment, a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B. Varale said that the prosecution material disclosed a prima facie case against Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, thereby attracting the statutory bar to bail under Section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

At this juncture, the Justice Kumar-led Bench observed that the prosecution evidence and other material “does not justify their enlargement on bail”, adding that the record suggested their involvement at the level of planning, mobilisation and issuance of strategic directions.

However, the apex court granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed, all of whom have been in custody for more than five years.

The Justice Kumar-led Bench said it was necessary to examine each bail application independently, since the record disclosed that the appellants did not all stand on equal footing with respect to culpability.

“The hierarchy of participation requires the court to assess each application individually,” the Supreme Court said, holding that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam stood on a qualitatively different footing as compared to the other accused.

Earlier, on December 10, the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on the batch of special leave petitions (SLPs) challenging the Delhi High Court’s refusal to grant bail to the accused in the 2020 riots “larger conspiracy” case.

Opposing the bail pleas, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, had contended that the violence was not a spontaneous communal clash but a “well-designed, well-crafted, orchestrated and preplanned” attack on the sovereignty of the nation.

“This was not a spontaneous act of violence; this was an attack against the sovereignty of the nation,” the SG had argued, relying on speeches, WhatsApp chats and other material to claim a “clear and discernible attempt to divide the society on communal lines”.

He had argued that the delay in the trial proceedings was attributable to the accused since they were “not cooperating” and “each of them argued for 4-5 days for opposing framing of charges”.

“Now, in all cases where it’s difficult to defend on facts, the mechanism is to delay the trial and not to go into the merits and say ‘give me bail’. This has become a pattern,” SG Mehta added.

In September 2025, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the bail pleas of Khalid, Imam and several other accused in the case, observing that a prima facie case under the UAPA was made out against them.

New Delhi, Jan 05: The Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) has expressed deep concern over the persistently high mental health treatment gap in India, noting that nearly 80-85 per cent of individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders do not receive timely or appropriate care.

This stark reality, which is supported by national and global evidence, was highlighted during the curtain raiser event of the 77th Annual National Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society, ANCIPS 2026, to be held from January 28-31 at Yashobhoomi in Delhi.

Mental health experts warned that despite advances in treatment and increasing awareness, the majority of people with mental illness continue to remain outside the formal healthcare system.

Data from the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) indicates that India faces one of the widest treatment gaps in the world, with over 85 per cent of people suffering from common mental disorders not seeking or receiving treatment.

In a global context, more than 70 pc of individuals with mental illness do not receive care from trained healthcare professionals, and in many low-income countries, fewer than 10 per cent of those in need actually access necessary treatment.

India, with its vast population and limited mental health infrastructure, remains particularly vulnerable to this challenge.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Savita Malhotra, President of the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), emphasised that mental illnesses are among the most treatable health conditions if identified early and managed appropriately.

“Mental health disorders are highly treatable, yet the majority of patients in India continue to suffer in silence. The fact that over 80 per cent of people do not receive timely psychiatric care reflects deep-rooted stigma, lack of awareness, and inadequate integration of mental health services into primary healthcare.

“This is not just a medical concern; it is a social, economic, and developmental issue that demands urgent national attention,” she said.

Experts at the event outlined several interlinked reasons behind the long delays in seeking psychiatric care, which often range from several months to even years.

Social stigma and discrimination remain major barriers, as individuals fear being labelled, judged, or marginalised by family, workplace and society.

Lack of awareness further compounds the problem, with many people failing to recognise early symptoms of mental illness as medical conditions requiring professional help.

Another significant contributor to the treatment gap is the acute shortage of mental health professionals in India.

Dr Nimesh G Desai, Chairperson, Organising Committee and former Director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), highlighted the serious consequences of delayed or absent treatment.

When psychiatric care is delayed, the illness often becomes more severe and chronic, leading to greater disability, family distress, loss of productivity and a significantly increased risk of self-harm and suicide, he said.

“Mental health must be addressed with the same urgency and seriousness as physical health. Strengthening community-based services, training primary care doctors, and improving referral systems are essential steps to bridge this unacceptable treatment gap,” Desai said.

Highlighting the role of the upcoming national conference, Dr Deepak Raheja, Organising Secretary of ANCIPS Delhi and Director, Hope Care India, said that that integration of mental health services into primary healthcare, increased budgetary allocation, expansion of the mental health workforce and sustained nationwide awareness campaigns are urgently needed to reduce stigma and improve access.

“ANCIPS 2026 Delhi will serve as a vital platform for mental health professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders to come together and develop practical, evidence-based solutions to improve access, affordability, and acceptability of mental healthcare. Our collective aim is to ensure that no individual is denied mental health support due to fear, stigma, or lack of resources,” Raheja said.

The burden of untreated mental illness is particularly severe among vulnerable groups. Studies indicate that nearly 80 per cent of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental disorders in certain regions do not receive any form of treatment, affecting their education, emotional well-being, and long-term life outcomes.

Similarly, close to 84 per cent of older adults with mental health conditions in India remain untreated, often due to neglect, lack of awareness, social isolation, or the mistaken belief that psychological symptoms are a normal part of ageing.

Delayed treatment has far-reaching consequences not only for individuals and families but also for society and the economy. Untreated mental illness contributes to increased morbidity and mortality, higher rates of substance use disorders, unemployment, family breakdown and suicide, experts said.

While recent initiatives such as the Tele-MANAS national mental health helpline, expansion of the District Mental Health Programme and greater policy focus on mental health are positive steps, IPS experts stressed that these efforts must be scaled up substantially to meet the growing demand.

The IPS emphasised that mental health must be recognised as an integral component of overall health, deserving the same priority, investment and urgency as physical healthcare.

New Delhi, Jan 05: The Supreme Court will pronounce its decision on the bail pleas of seven accused, including student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, in the alleged “larger conspiracy” case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots on Monday.

The bail pleas have been filed by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed, and Mohd.

As per the causelist published on the website of the Apex Court, a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B. Varale will deliver the judgment on Monday.

Saleem Khan, facing charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has been in custody for more than five years.

Earlier, on December 10, the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on the batch of special leave petitions (SLPs) challenging the Delhi High Court’s refusal to grant bail to the accused in the 2020 riots “larger conspiracy” case.

After hearing both sides, the Justice Kumar-led Bench directed the petitioners as well as the prosecution to file any additional documents in support of their submissions by December 18.

Opposing the bail pleas, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, had contended that the violence was not a spontaneous communal clash but a “well-designed, well-crafted, orchestrated and preplanned” attack on the sovereignty of the nation.

“This was not a spontaneous act of violence; this was an attack against the sovereignty of the nation,” the SG had argued, relying on speeches, WhatsApp chats and other material to claim a “clear and discernible attempt to divide the society on communal lines”.

He had argued that the delay in the trial proceedings was attributable to the accused since they were “not cooperating” and “each of them argued for 4-5 days for opposing framing of charges”.

“Now, in all cases where it’s difficult to defend on facts, the mechanism is to delay the trial and not to go into the merits and say ‘give me bail’. This has become a pattern,” SG Mehta added.

Earlier, on September 2, last year, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the bail pleas of Khalid, Imam and several other accused in the case, observing that a prima facie case under the UAPA was made out against them.

Srinagar/New Delhi, Jan 4: Investigations into the terror module involving doctors linked to the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10 last year show that the highly educated doctors used a sophisticated web of “ghost” SIM cards and encrypted apps to coordinate with Pakistani handlers, officials said on Sunday.

The outcome of the investigations essentially formed the basis for the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to issue a sweeping directive on November 28 last year, mandating that app-based communication services like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal must be continuously linked to an active, physical SIM card within the device.

The officials said the probe into the terror module and the blast led to a web of “ghost” SIM cards being used by the arrested doctors, including Muzammil Ganaie, Adeel Rather, and others, as part of a tactical “dual-phone” protocol to evade security agencies.

Each accused, including Dr Umar-un-Nabi, who was killed while driving the explosives-laden vehicle near the Red Fort, carried two to three mobile handsets, they said.

The accused carried one “clean” phone registered in their own names for routine personal and professional use to avoid suspicion, and one was the “terror phone” used exclusively for WhatsApp and Telegram communication with their handlers in Pakistan (identified by codenames ‘Ukasa’, ‘Faizan’, and ‘Hashmi’).

The SIM cards for these secondary devices were issued in the names of unsuspecting civilians whose Aadhaar details were misused, the officials said.

Jammu and Kashmir Police further unearthed a separate racket where SIMs were issued using fake Aadhaar cards, they said.

According to the officials, the security agencies noted a disturbing trend where these compromised SIMs remained active on messaging platforms across the border in PoK or Pakistan.

By exploiting features that allow messaging apps to run without a physical SIM in the device, the handlers were able to direct the module to learn IED assembly via YouTube and plot “hinterland” attacks, despite the recruits initially wanting to join conflict zones in Syria or Afghanistan.

To plug these security gaps, the Centre has invoked the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and Telecom Cyber Security Rules to “safeguard the integrity of the telecom ecosystem”, which includes a rule that, within 90 days, all Telecommunication Identifier User Entities (TIUEs) must ensure their apps function only if an active SIM is installed in the device.

The order further directs the telecom operators to automatically log out users from apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal in case of the absence of an active SIM, the officials said, adding that all service providers, including Snapchat, Sharechat, and Jiochat must submit compliance reports to the DoT.

This feature of using apps without a SIM is posing a challenge to telecom cyber security as it is being misused from outside the country to commit cyber frauds and terror activities, the DoT statement had said while explaining the reasoning behind the move.

The directive is being fast-tracked in the J&K telecom circle.

While officials admit it will take time to deactivate all expired or fraudulent SIMs, the move is seen as a critical blow to the digital infrastructure used by terror networks to radicalise and manage operatives.

Failure to comply with these norms will attract stringent action under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules and other applicable laws, the officials said.

The terror module involving doctors began to unravel on the intervening night of October 18-19, 2025, when posters of the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) surfaced on walls just outside Srinagar city.

The posters warned of attacks on the Police and security forces in the Valley.

Treating it as a serious matter, Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, G V Sundeep Chakravarthy formed several teams to conduct an in-depth investigation into the case.

After piecing together the statements of the arrested accused, the probe led the Srinagar police to Al Falah University in Haryana’s Faridabad, where two doctors – Ganaie, a resident of Koil in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shaheen Sayeed from Lucknow – were arrested.

A huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including 2900 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur, was also seized.

The car explosion case near the Red Fort claimed 15 lives and is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency.