Delhi Court Directs Presence Of Jail Superintendent In Sharjeel Imam's Plea Alleging Assault Inside Jail, Calls For CCTV Footage

A Delhi Court today directed presence of the Jail Superintendent in a plea moved by Sharjeel Imam, presently in judicial custody in connection with the North East Delhi riots of 2020, alleging that he was assaulted and harassed inside jail and was called terrorist and anti national.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat also directed that the CCTV footage all the cameras for the date of incident i.e. June 30 for the period 6.00 PM to 8.00 PM be produced on the next date, July 20.

An application was moved by Imam wherein it was disclosed that that on June 30, around 7:30 PM, the Assistant Superintendent along with 8 to 9 convicts came to his cell in the name of carrying out search. 

It has been claimed that during the said search, Imam's books and clothes were thrown away, he was assaulted and was even called terrorist and anti national.

The application further added that while Sharjeel requested the Assistant Superintendent to prevent the said convicts from assaulting him, however no steps were taken by the Superintendent regarding the same.

It was also alleged that the convicts, during the alleged illegal search, struggled to place some contraband in Sharjeel's possession.

As per the reply filed by concerned Jail Superintendent, it was submitted that the names of the Sewadars who take part in the search is maintained in a separate register.

Moreover, it was informed that the CCTV footage of the cameras installed in Imam's cell was preserved and can be produced as per judicial directions.

Accordingly, the Court ordered thus:

"Let the register of the inmates/sewadars, who participated in the said surprise search, as stated, may also be produced in the court on next date."

The matter will now be heard on July 20. The Court is also likely to pronounce orders on Imam's interim bail plea moved in another FIR against him involving the offence of Sedition under sec. 124A of Indian Penal Code, in view of recent Apex Court order wherein the sedition law has been kept in abeyance till the Union Government reconsiders the provision.

The Court will also pronounce order on the question of continuation of trial in the matter after Sharjeel's counsel argued that in view of the Supreme Court order, the criminal trial in respect of offence sec. 124 A IPC have been stayed.