Congress responsible for Umar Khalid, Shareel Imam's jail: Owaisi's big charge A heated debate has reignited over the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act following the Supreme Court's refusal to grant bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has criticised the Congress for enacting provisions that enable prolonged detention without trial. AdvertisementOwaisi blames Congress over UAPA after bail denied to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. India Today News DeskNew Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 10, 2026 11:21 ISTEdited By: Sonali VermaA sharp political row over the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act has resurfaced after the Supreme Court denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi accusing the Congress of having laid the legal groundwork that allows prolonged incarceration without trial. Speaking at a public event, Owaisi said amendments brought to the UAPA during the UPA government, when P Chidambaram was Union home minister, had widened the definition of terrorism and created provisions that are now being used to keep undertrials behind bars for years. advertisement“The Supreme Court did not grant bail to two undertrial accused, and the Supreme Court explained why it did not grant bail,” Owaisi said. “During the UPA government, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act was amended, and it included a definition of what constitutes terrorism.” ‘SUBJECTIVE LAW, DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES’Owaisi recalled his earlier opposition to the amendments while speaking in Parliament more than a decade ago, calling parts of the law vague and open to misuse.“I am referring to 2007 or 2008.
