Sharjeel Imam has moved the Delhi High Court seeking regular bail in the alleged larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. His appeal against the rejection of bail by the trial court is slated to be heard tomorrow.
The matter is listed before a Division Bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan.
Imam has challenged the trial court’s order dated July 4, whereby his application for regular bail was rejected. The trial court had observed that it was bound by the Supreme Court’s earlier decision declining him bail and found that no subsequent developments or fresh circumstances had been demonstrated to justify a different view.
The case arises out of FIR No. 59 of 2020, registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell, which pertains to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the communal violence that broke out in North-East Delhi in February 2020. The prosecution has invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with offences under the Indian Penal Code, alleging that Imam and several other accused were part of a conspiracy that culminated in the riots.
According to the prosecution, the violence occurred during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), resulting in the deaths of 53 people and injuries to hundreds of others.
Imam has been in judicial custody since August 2020. Although he has obtained bail in certain other criminal cases arising from speeches delivered during the anti-CAA protests, he continues to remain in custody in connection with the larger conspiracy case.
The High Court is expected to consider his plea for regular bail at the hearing scheduled for tomorrow.
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