A Delhi court has granted interim bail to student activist Sharjeel Imam, who is facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 North-East Delhi riots case. The bail allows him to attend his brother’s wedding and care for his ailing mother from March 20 to March 30. Imam, accused of involvement in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, is alleged to have conspired in the riots that occurred in North-East Delhi in February 2020.
Imam, who has been in custody for an extended period, is accused of being part of a premeditated conspiracy involving various student activists. The Delhi Police claim that the violence in North-East Delhi was not spontaneous but a result of planned mobilization, road blockades, and coordinated protests during the visit of then US President Donald Trump. The Supreme Court had earlier denied bail to Imam and another accused, Umar Khalid, stating that the accusations against them were prima facie true under the UAPA.
The Supreme Court emphasized that during bail proceedings under anti-terror laws, the court’s role is to assess if the prosecution’s version is reasonably plausible. It clarified that Imam’s alleged involvement in mobilization strategies leading to the 2020 violence was crucial, and physical presence at the riot site was not a prerequisite for establishing conspiracy liability. The court stressed the need for expediting legal proceedings rather than granting bail in cases falling under the UAPA.
