Sharjeel Imam has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the framing of charges against him in connection with the alleged violence during the 2019 anti-CAA protests in Jamia Nagar.

Justice Sanjeev Narula took cognizance of the plea and sought a response from the Delhi Police regarding the matter.

Representation in Court

Imam was represented by Advocates Talib Mustafa and Ahmad Ibrahim.

Mustafa argued that along with the main plea, an application had been submitted requesting an interim stay on the order in question. However, the Court clarified that it would not impose a stay at this stage and would wait for the prosecution’s reply before proceeding further.

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The Court also issued a notice regarding Imam’s request for a stay and scheduled the matter for hearing on April 24, when another plea related to the same speech is already under adjudication.

Trial Court’s Observations

Earlier this month, the trial court framed charges against Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, and nine others in the case. The court noted that Imam was not only an instigator but played a significant role in orchestrating a larger conspiracy to incite violence.

The trial court observed:

• "As a senior Ph.D. student, Sharjeel Imam tactfully structured his speech to exclude direct mention of any community other than the Muslim community. However, the intended targets of the ‘chakka jaam’ were individuals from other communities."
• "His speech was designed to provoke anger and hatred, leading to widespread violence by the unlawful assembly on public roads."
• "The content of the speech was venomous, promoting division between religious groups, making it a clear instance of hate speech."

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Case Background and Allegations

The case stems from FIR No. 242 of 2019, registered at NFC Police Station. Authorities allege that during the protests, members of the unlawful assembly caused extensive damage to public and private property. Around 41 vehicles, including government and private cars, were reportedly vandalized, and police officials were subjected to stone pelting.

The Court will further deliberate on the plea and the prosecution’s response in the upcoming hearing.

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