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Delhi court grants 10-day interim bail to Sharjeel Imam in 2020 Delhi riots case to attend brother's wedding
Activist Sharjeel Imam received a 10-day interim bail from a Delhi court in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case.
Activist Sharjeel Imam, who is lodged in Tihar Jail for 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case, was granted a 10-day interim bail by a Delhi court to attend his brother’s wedding and take care of his ailing mother.
Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai was hearing the interim bail plea filed by Sharjeel Imam, which sought six weeks relief. In this light, the court granted him interim bail from March 20 to 30, news agency PTI reported.
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Imam was arrested along with fellow activist Umar Khalid under Section 15A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after being accused of instigating the riots in Delhi in 2020. Imam was granted interim bail more than two months after five others accused in the case.
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Both Khalid and Imam were denied bail by the Supreme Court earlier this year, shortly after which, Imam’s lawyers said he had withdrawn from the anti-CAA protests in Delhi before the Delhi Assembly elections, fearing the peaceful agitation was turning violent. His counsel told the court that even the prosecution claims Imam had left the protests by January, weeks before the February 2020 riots.
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The defence also argued there is no call record or evidence of meetings linking Imam with Umar Khalid, and that he was not part of WhatsApp groups allegedly used to coordinate road blockades. Instead, he had created a separate group of Jamia students for peaceful demonstrations.
Imam is among 17 accused in the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots, which left 53 people dead and hundreds injured. Eleven accused are currently out on bail (excluding Imam), and the case is at the stage of arguments on framing of charges, with 17 of the 18 accused having completed their submissions.
(With inputs from PTI)
