Delhi High Court to Revisit Sharjeel Imam's Bail Plea in 2020 Riots Case

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the bail plea of activist Sharjeel Imam on July 9 in connection with the February 2020 riots case. The hearing, initially set for Tuesday, was postponed after the prosecution sought additional time for preparation.

Imam's lawyer contended that the activist was not connected to the related individuals, times, and locations, arguing that neither his speeches nor his WhatsApp messages incited unrest. The counsel further claimed that Imam had been absent from the capital after January 15, 2020, and was detained in a separate instance on January 28, 2020, in Bihar.

The charges against Imam, along with several others including Umar Khalid, fall under the serious provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code, accusing them of orchestrating the February 2020 riots. These uprisings, which were intertwined with protests against the CAA and NRC, resulted in 53 fatalities and over 700 injuries. Imam was arrested in this case on August 25, 2020.

(With inputs from agencies.)