The Delhi High Court has asked Delhi Police to respond to Natasha Narwal's plea to travel to the United Kingdom for an academic conference. The move renews focus on travel curbs faced by an activist already on bail in the UAPA case.
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Newdelhi,Oct 12, 2026 15:28 IST
The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the stand of Delhi Police on activist Natasha Narwal's plea seeking permission to travel to the United Kingdom for an academic conference. Narwal is out on bail in cases linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
Justice Amit Bansal issued notice on Narwal's petition challenging a trial court order that had refused her the relief in the case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA. The high court listed the matter for hearing on October 15.
Narwal's lawyer told the court that she intended to travel to the United Kingdom for a conference from November 2 to December 1. Her counsel also sought an early decision on the plea, saying she had to apply for a visa after the release of her passport, which had earlier been surrendered because of the criminal proceedings, and also buy tickets.
On October 6, the trial court had refused to allow Narwal to travel to the UK, citing the seriousness of the case against her and the stage of the proceedings.
Narwal was named as an accused by Delhi Police in three FIRs registered in connection with the protest during the violence in northeast Delhi in 2020, including the 'larger conspiracy' case under the UAPA.
Communal clashes broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, after violence between supporters of the citizenship law and protesters spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 700 injured.
Narwal, Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, Umar Khalid and others have been accused of being the "masterminds" behind the violence that took place at a time when then US President Donald Trump and other dignitaries were in the national capital.
In June 2021, the high court had granted bail to Narwal and Devangana Kalita in the UAPA case, observing that "in an anxiety to suppress dissent, the state has blurred the line between right to protest and terrorist activity" and that if such a mindset gained traction, it would be a "sad day for democracy".
The high court has now asked Delhi Police to respond to Narwal's plea to travel to the UK, after the trial court had declined permission in the UAPA case linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
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