The Delhi High Court permitted Natasha Narwal to travel to the United Kingdom for academic work. The month-long visit is subject to return undertakings, bonds and passport safeguards.
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Newdelhi,Oct 16, 2026 17:02 IST
The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed activist Natasha Narwal, who is out on bail in cases linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, to travel to the United Kingdom for academic purposes, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Justice Amit Bansal directed the trial court to release Narwal's passport and said any pending look out circular against her would remain suspended during her travel from November 2 to December 1.
Narwal, a PhD scholar, told the court that she intended to visit the UK to attend an academic conference. The court noted that she was pursuing a PhD at a university in the UK and was required to present her research there.
While granting permission, the court directed Narwal and her brother to submit a written undertaking that she would return to India and not seek asylum in the UK. She was also asked to furnish personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each in two riots-related cases against her.
“The court is inclined to permit the petitioner to travel to the UK with suitable safeguards. The petitioner would be permitted to travel to the UK from November 2 to December 1,” the court said, according to PTI.
“The trial court is directed to release the passport of the petitioner,” it ordered.
The court directed Narwal to surrender her passport within 48 hours of her return. It also barred her from making any statement on the merits of the cases pending against her.
The Delhi Police, represented by Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, opposed Narwal's request, expressing concern that she might not return to India. On October 6, the trial court had refused to allow her to travel to the UK, citing the seriousness of the case and the stage of the proceedings.
Delhi Police named Narwal as an accused in three cases registered in connection with protests during the 2020 northeast Delhi violence. These include the alleged “larger conspiracy” case filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Communal clashes broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, after violence between supporters and opponents of the citizenship law escalated. At least 53 people were killed and around 700 were injured.
Narwal, Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, Umar Khalid and others have been accused of being the “masterminds” behind the violence, which took place when US President Donald Trump and other dignitaries were in the national capital.
In June 2021, the high court granted bail to Narwal and Devangana Kalita in the UAPA case. It observed that “in an anxiety to suppress dissent, the state has blurred the line between right to protest and terrorist activity” and said it would be a “sad day for democracy” if such a mindset gained traction.
The latest order allows Narwal to travel to the UK for her academic work for a month, subject to safeguards that include an undertaking to return, personal bonds and the surrender of her passport within 48 hours of coming back to India.
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