Sharjeel Imam Released on Interim Bail After Six Years in Jail

Sharjeel Imam's Release from Jail

Sharjeel Imam, an activist accused in the conspiracy behind the 2020 North East Delhi riots, was released from jail on Friday after nearly six years. A Delhi court granted him interim bail for ten days, allowing him to attend his brother's wedding and care for his ill mother from March 20 to March 30. Imam was seen exiting through Gate Number 3 of Tihar Jail, after which he was taken away in a car. His release comes a few weeks after the Supreme Court denied bail to him and co-accused Umar Khalid in January, stating that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case indicating their alleged involvement in a larger conspiracy.

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Imam is among several individuals linked to the communal violence that erupted in North East Delhi in February 2020, resulting in 53 fatalities and over 700 injuries. The Delhi Police, which is investigating the case, has alleged that the violence was part of a premeditated conspiracy aimed at disrupting public order during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Imam and others have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

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In January, while rejecting the bail pleas of Imam and Khalid, the Supreme Court granted relief to five other accused—Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammad Salim Khan, and Shadab Ahmed—considering their roles to be different from those of Imam and Khalid. According to the police, some of the accused were the "main conspirators" of the alleged plot, citing speeches and other materials as part of their evidence. Imam's release is temporary, and he is expected to surrender in court after the ten-day bail period ends on March 30, as the trial continues.