Sedition Case: Sharjeel Imam Moves Delhi Court Seeking Statutory Bail For Having Undergone One Half Of Maximum Punishment

Sharjeel Imam has moved a Delhi Court seeking statutory bail for having undergone one half of the maximum seven years punishment in a UAPA and sedition case relating to alleged inflammatory speeches made by him in Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia area in the national capital against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Imam was booked under FIR 22 of 2020 registered by Delhi Police’s Special Branch. While the case was initially registered for the offence of sedition, Section 13 of UAPA was invoked later. He has been custody in the case since January 28, 2020.

It is Imam’s case that he is entitled to be released on statutory bail as he has undergone one half of the maximum seven years of punishment prescribed under Section 13 of UAPA.

“…the Applicant has completed one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for the concerned offence by law after his arrest on 28.01.2020, the Applicant has completed 3 years and 6 months in judicial custody of this Ld. Court and hence, deserves the liberty of this Ld. Court by grant of statutory bail under Section 436A of Cr.P.C,” the application states.

The application will be heard by Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat of Karkardooma Court on September 11. Advocates Ahmad Ibrahim and Talib Mustafa represent Imam. 

The application states that Imam is ready to furnish reliable surety to the satisfaction of the court and also to abide by the conditions or restrictions imposed on him, in case of his release.

“That the Applicant has been in custody since 28.01.2020 in connection with captioned FIR and has completed a period of 3 years and more than 6 months under incarceration and has undergone incarceration extending up to one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for the concerned offence by law,” the application reads.

The judge had framed charges against Imam in the FIR in January last year. He has been charged for the offences under Section 124A (sedition), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc.), 153B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration), 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) of the IPC along with Section 13 (Punishment for unlawful activities) of the UAPA.

In June, Imam had moved the Delhi High Court challenging proceedings against him in two different cases for the same speech delivered at Jamia Millia Islamia University in December 2019. The matter, in which notice has been issued, is scheduled for hearing on October 18.