Sharjeel Imam Moves Delhi High Court for Bail in 2020 Riots Conspiracy Case

Former JNU scholar Sharjeel Imam on Thursday filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court seeking bail in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case. The legal matter is directly linked to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi.

Imam’s appeal officially challenges the trial court's July 4 order, which dismissed his second regular bail application. The newly filed appeal is scheduled to be heard on Friday by a Delhi High Court bench consisting of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan.

Imam has been in custody for nearly four years, following his arrest on August 25, 2020. Police booked him under the UAPA, accusing him of being one of the key masterminds behind the northeast Delhi violence.

The riots, which broke out in February 2020, led to 53 deaths and left more than 700 people injured. The violence originally erupted during intense protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the National Register of Citizens.

When rejecting the bail plea on July 4, the trial court stated that it had "no option but to follow" an earlier Supreme Court order from January 5. Because of this, the trial court determined that it could not entertain the regular bail application or grant Imam any relief.

The trial court also ruled that the bail application was not maintainable before it. Following this dismissal, Imam moved the High Court to challenge the decision and seek regular bail in the ongoing conspiracy case.

This appeal represents a key legal development for Imam as he attempts to secure release in the high-profile Delhi riots conspiracy case. The upcoming Friday hearing will address his challenge against the trial court's rejection.