NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of police on JNU student Sharjeel Imam’s plea seeking interim bail in a 2020 riots case involving allegations of sedition.
A bench of Justices Mukta Gupta and Anish Dayal issued notice on his plea seeking bail and a stay on proceedings in the case. Imam, who is facing sedition charges for his alleged inflammatory speeches, had urged the trial court to release him for the time being on account of the Supreme Court keeping in abeyance IPC Section 124A (sedition) until the issue of its constitutionality is examined.
The court sought a status report from police and listed the matter for consideration on August 25. According to the prosecution, Imam had allegedly made speeches at Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13, 2019 and at Aligarh Muslim University on December 16, 2019, where he threatened to cut off Assam and the rest of the Northeast from India.
In his plea before the high court, Imam said the trial court had “failed to recognise” that pursuant to the directions of the top court, the basis for dismissal of his earlier bail plea, the charge of sedition, was obviated and he was entitled to immediate relief.
Earlier this year, the trial court ordered for framing of charges against Imam under IPC sections 124A, 153A (promoting enmity), l53B (imputations prejudicial to national integration), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), and section 13 of UAPA. While refusing to direct the release of the accused, the trial court said interim bail applications could only be considered in case of emergencies, like a medical condition.
