The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Delhi Police on activist Sharjeel Imam’s appeal seeking regular bail in the alleged larger conspiracy case related to the February 2020 Delhi riots under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A division bench comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan directed the Delhi Police to file its response within two weeks and scheduled the next hearing in the matter for August 27. Imam has challenged the trial court’s July 4 order, which dismissed his second regular bail application.
During the hearing, Imam’s counsel argued that the trial court failed to consider developments that occurred after the Supreme Court rejected his bail plea in January. The defence submitted that although more than six months have passed since that order, the trial has made little progress and charges are yet to be framed. Representing the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju stated that the Supreme Court had already considered the issue of delay while refusing bail and informed the High Court that arguments on framing of charges had continued for over 200 days due to the large number of accused in the case.
Sharjeel Imam was arrested on August 25, 2020, in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy behind the northeast Delhi riots, which took place during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). The violence claimed 53 lives and left more than 700 people injured. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court declined bail to Imam and co-accused Umar Khalid, observing that there was a prima facie case against them under the UAPA while granting bail to several other accused, citing differences in the alleged level of participation.
