Sharjeel Imam’s Controversial Clips Become Key Evidence in SC Bail Fight (Source: X/ telegraphindia)
The Delhi Police on Thursday firmly opposed the bail applications filed by activists Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, and others accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case. Presenting their arguments before the Supreme Court, the police claimed that intellectuals who support or participate in terrorism are more dangerous to society than individuals working on the ground. They also mentioned that it has now become a concerning trend for highly qualified professionals, including doctors and engineers, to engage in activities described as anti-national.
During the argument, the Delhi Police also referred to the recent Red Fort blast, suggesting that such incidents showed how educated individuals were increasingly getting involved in extremist ideologies.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the Delhi Police, showed the court a compilation of videos in which Sharjeel Imam was allegedly seen delivering evoking speeches during nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Imam, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student, has been in custody since 2020 and faces several serious charges, including sedition and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Imam, Khalid, and other accused have challenged the Delhi High Court’s decision of September 2, which denied them bail. The Supreme Court bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria is currently hearing the matter. The hearing will continue on Friday afternoon.
The Delhi Police presented several video clips from speeches made by Sharjeel Imam in Chakhand, Jamia, Aligarh, and Asansol in 2019 and early 2020, just before the riots. ASG Raju informed the court that these clips were part of the official chargesheet.
According to reports, in a speech delivered in Aligarh on January 16, 2020, Imam allegedly said that with 5 lakh people, “we can permanently cut off India and the North East. If not permanently, then at least a month or so”. He further spoke about the chicken’s neck region and said, "Scatter so much debris on the tracks that it takes at least a month to clear it... It is our responsibility to cut off Assam. Cut all the supplies from here. We can stop it because the chicken neck belongs to Muslims".
The chicken’s neck refers to the narrow Siliguri corridor that connects the Northeast to the rest of India.
ASG Raju noted that Imam discussed how removing the 16 km stretch would isolate the state of Assam from mainland India. He also mentioned that Imam allegedly referred to the Kashmir situation and said the court would be forced to remember “Court ki nani yaad kara denge” for its ruling in the Babri Masjid case.
In another video from January 2020, Imam reportedly referenced the Babri Mosque issue, the CAA, and triple talaq. Another clip allegedly showed him urging crowds to carry out a chakka jam not only in Delhi but across the country during anti-CAA protests.
However, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Imam, argued that the clips shown in court were only small parts of Imam’s longer speeches, which ran for more than three hours, and that using short excerpts could create a biased impression against him.
ASG Raju further told the Supreme Court that Sharjeel Imam’s plans were timed to coincide with the visit of US President Donald Trump, claiming this was done to draw international media attention.
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