'A Bright Student, Written Many Articles': Court Notes While Granting Bail To Anti-CAA Activist Sharjeel Usmani [Read Order]

A Sessions Court at Aligarh has granted bail to Aligarh Muslim University student Sharjeel Usman, who was arrested by UP Police on July 29 in relation to protests held at AMU against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

While granting bail in two FIRs, the Court noted the academic credentials of Usman.

"The academic records of the accused manifests that he has been a bright student. He has written many articles which are also available on records", Narendra Singh, the Sessions Judge, noted in the bail order.

"...in consideration of the undergone period in jail by the accused and his academic records, inter alia, the case is fit and proper to grant bail to the accused", the order stated.

The Court, observing that the co-accused has already been granted bail and that Usmani was granted bail in two other cases, said: "Keeping the accused further in jail will definitely serve no purpose at all".

The FIRs registered by Aligarh police mentioned offences under Sections 153A(promotion of communal disharmony), 147(unlawful assembly), 188(disobedience of directions of civil servant), 353(assault against public servant) of Indian Penal Code and 67(publication of obscene materials online) of Information Technology Act.

Usmani was asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 for the bail. He has been asked not to tamper with evidence and be present for trial as and when needed.

While the court order was issued on August 28, Usmani was released on September 1. "The delay was because the identification process was taking time," Ale Nabi, Usmani's lawyer, told The Indian Express. "It was a procedural delay. The most important part is that he has been granted bail in all cases filed in Civil Lines Police Station. The trial is yet to begin."

The FIRs were registered over the protests led by students of Aligarh Muslim University on December 15, 2019.

In February, the Allahabad High Court directed UP Government to take departmental action against police officers who indulged in violence against AMU students during the protests, and ordered compensation to injured students.

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