Sharjeel Imam, one of the accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, has taken a step forward in his legal battle. On Saturday, he filed an appeal in the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court rejected his bail plea. Imam has been behind bars for nearly five years, accused of conspiracy and involved under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with other charges.
The Delhi riots in February 2020 turned deadly, claiming 53 lives and injuring around 700 people. The violence sparked during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The High Court had recently dismissed the bail requests of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, and several others involved in what is called the “larger conspiracy” behind the riots.
A bench of two judges, Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur, announced the rejection, saying, “All the appeals are dismissed.” The detailed judgement has not yet been uploaded to the Delhi High Court’s website.
Earlier, in July, the court had reserved its decision after hearing arguments from both sides. The government’s side, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, argued strongly against granting bail. He pointed out that the accused were involved in a well-organized conspiracy aimed at tarnishing India’s reputation just before US President Donald Trump’s visit in 2020.
Mehta emphasized that the accused should stay in jail until their trial concludes, as they were part of a deliberate plan to create chaos in Delhi on a specific day and time. He accused Sharjeel Imam of making speeches that aimed to divide the nation along religious lines and cause international embarrassment.
He also pointed out that this wasn’t just a regular riot case. Instead, it involved a premeditated attack on the country’s sovereignty. Referring to earlier court orders, Mehta highlighted that Umar Khalid’s case was also described as a “terrorist act.”
In his arguments, the Solicitor General stressed that the riots were not just protests but a carefully planned attack meant to threaten national stability. He mentioned that global media reports covered the incident, showing the international concern around the riots.
Overall, the case continues to attract attention as authorities maintain that the riots were part of a bigger conspiracy against the country. The Supreme Court will now decide how to proceed with Sharjeel Imam’s appeal, amid ongoing debates about justice and security.
