Umar Khalid has spent six years in custody as an undertrial in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, describing daily prison routines, NEET protests and life behind bars.
Umar Khalid completed six years in Tihar Jail on September 13, 2026. In a recently published prison diary, he describes a typical day inside the jail—from the morning prisoner count and shared facilities to prison work, reading newspapers, evening routines and the long wait between court hearings.
The Editorial Team of Behind The Headlines reports that Khalid was arrested in September 2020 in connection with the larger conspiracy case related to the February 2020 Delhi riots. He remains an undertrial and has not been convicted in the case. His continued incarceration has also become part of a wider legal debate over prolonged pre-trial detention under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA.
A day shaped by the prison clock
Khalid's account begins around 6 am, when prison officials conduct the daily ginti, or head count. He describes announcements for prisoners with court hearings or medical appointments, queues for water, milk and phone calls, and the routine sounds of life inside the ward.
By 8 am, prisoners assigned to paid jail labour report for work. Others work as plumbers, tailors, electricians, barbers or in the canteen, library and administrative offices. Khalid describes the prison as a self-contained world in which much of the daily functioning is carried out by inmates themselves.
NEET protests become a moment of reflection
One of the most political sections of the diary comes when Khalid describes reading about student and youth protests over the NEET examination paper-leak controversy.
He writes that the reports made him restless but also gave him a sense of hope. He connects the protests with a broader argument about young people challenging authority and demanding accountability.
These are Khalid's personal political views, rather than an independent assessment of the NEET protests or the government's record. His diary also contains strong criticism of the RSS and BJP, while expressing support for students who had reportedly displayed messages seeking his release.
The NEET protests themselves were a separate movement focused on examination integrity and accountability, although references to Khalid appeared at some demonstrations. In July, Goa Police investigated the appearance of a “Free Umar Khalid” banner at protests there.
Writing applications for fellow prisoners
Another recurring part of Khalid's day is helping fellow inmates with paperwork.
He says prisoners approach him to explain court orders or write applications to jail authorities. Some requests concern medical treatment, while others involve complaints about prison officials.
The diary presents these interactions as examples of how written applications become an important means through which inmates try to communicate their problems to authorities.
Six years without a trial
Khalid's incarceration has also raised questions about the balance between UAPA's stringent bail provisions and the constitutional right to a speedy trial.
In May 2026, the Supreme Court, while granting bail to another UAPA accused, expressed serious reservations about an earlier decision denying bail to Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The court referred to its 2021 K.A. Najeeb judgment, which recognised that prolonged incarceration and delayed trials can have constitutional implications even under stringent laws.
However, an earlier Supreme Court judgment in January 2026 had denied bail to Khalid and Imam in the Delhi riots conspiracy case, while granting bail to five other accused. The court said the prosecution material, at the bail stage, indicated what it described as a central role for Khalid and Imam in the alleged conspiracy. These remain allegations to be tested through the judicial process.
As of September 2026, Khalid remains in custody and the trial has not concluded. Recent legal reporting has highlighted his six years as an undertrial alongside broader questions about how prolonged UAPA incarceration should be treated when trials take years to begin or finish.
What the diary ultimately reveals
Beyond the political debate surrounding Umar Khalid, his prison diary focuses heavily on routine: meals, queues, books, court dates, fellow inmates, cats in the ward, evening prayers, conversations and the changing seasons.
His account describes how a long prison sentence can turn time itself into a daily routine, with ordinary events becoming markers of passing months and years. He writes that September 13 would mark six years since his imprisonment.
The diary therefore offers two different ways of looking at Khalid's imprisonment. Legally, he remains an accused person facing serious charges under the UAPA and related laws, with the allegations yet to be adjudicated at trial. Personally, the diary records how six years of incarceration have shaped his everyday life and his view of time, politics, protest and hope.