NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has approached the Karkardooma Courts seeking cancellation of Sharjeel Imam’s seven-day interim bail in the February 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. The Delhi police reiterated that Sharjeel Imam violated an explicit condition of his release by interacting with media the persons. The police presented a video evidence circulating on social media, in which Imam can be seen speaking to journalists, thus breaching the condition on which bail was provided.
Police exposes wilful violation of bail conditions
The bail cancellation plea was moved through Special Public Prosecutor Madhukar Pandey before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai at the Karkardooma Courts in Delhi. The application contends that Imam failed to comply with the restrictions imposed by the court while granting him temporary liberty to attend family wedding functions.
On September 22, the court granted Imam interim bail for seven days, from October 4 to October 10, to attend the weddings of two of his cousins. The relief was subject to specific conditions, including a prohibition on using social media and interacting with media persons during the bail period.
In its application, the Delhi Police referred to a video circulating on social media in which Imam could be seen interacting with the journalists. The police argued that the conduct amounted to a direct violation of the conditions imposed by the court. “Therefore, the accused grossly violated the aforesaid condition that he shall not come in contact of any media person”, the plea stated, as reported by legal news outlets.
The application further said that Imam had deliberately disregarded the restrictions attached to the relief granted to him. The police maintained that an accused who receives temporary liberty from a court is obligated to comply with all conditions governing that release. “It is clear from the conduct of the accused that he is misusing the liberty granted to him by this court”, the application stated.
On this basis, the police sought cancellation of Imam’s interim bail, and said that his actions constituted a gross violation of the court’s express directions. Imam’s interim release was granted for a limited purpose, allowing him to participate in family wedding ceremonies scheduled across Delhi and Bihar.
Sharjeel Imam faces UAPA charges in 2020 Delhi Riots case
Imam is an accused in the larger conspiracy case linked to the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020 amid protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The violence left 53 people dead and hundreds injured, with reports placing the number of injured above 700.
He was arrested on January 28, 2020 and booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Delhi Police has said that Imam played a significant role in the conspiracy behind the violence. In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the police said that Imam helped organise the initial phase of unrest in December 2019 and mobilise people through speeches and calls for a road blockade. The police also cited WhatsApp communications and speeches delivered at different locations to support the planning and escalation of the protests.
