Order on Sharjeel’s interim bail plea in riots sedition case expected soon

Delhi court to also decide whether to stay trial in the case

A Delhi court is expected to pronounce on July 23 its orders on the interim bail plea and application to stay the trial proceedings in a case related to the North-East Delhi riots of February 2020, filed by JNU scholar Sharjeel Imam citing the Supreme Court’s order on sedition cases.

The prosecution had on Tuesday filed its written submissions opposing the applications filed by Mr. Imam, insisting that even if the proceedings under Section 124A (sedition) are stayed, he stands accused under several other sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, for which proceedings must continue.

Soon after the Supreme Court’s order in May, directing that all sedition cases be kept in abeyance till the Union government reconsiders the law, Mr. Sharjeel had approached the Delhi High Court, seeking interim bail in the riots related cases against him in which sedition charges were invoked. The HC had then granted him permission to approach the lower court.

Following this, Mr. Imam had filed an application to secure interim bail in one of the cases before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat, and also argued for trial proceedings to be stayed in the said case.

The case is being probed by the Crime Branch under Sections 124A, 153A, and 505 of the IPC along with Section 13 of the UAPA for speeches he had delivered at the Jamia Nagar area here and at the Aligarh Muslim University at the peak of the anti-CAA/NRC protests.

Mr. Imam had argued that he was earlier denied bail in this case solely on the basis of the fact that the charge under Section 124A had already been framed. And given that the Supreme Court had directed for all sedition cases be kept in abeyance, he should be entitled to interim bail, he argued through his lawyers.