The Delhi High Court on Monday expressed its dissatisfaction over the consistent non-appearance of the prosecutor in the case against student activist Sharjeel Imam. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri highlighted that the prosecutor had failed to appear for the last four to five hearings, prompting the court to remark on the lack of progress in the case.
Sharjeel Imam, known for his involvement in the anti-CAA protests, is facing charges under various sections, including sedition, a charge whose operation has been stayed by the Supreme Court. The case pertains to a speech Imam delivered at Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019, which led to his arrest on allegations of instigating violence and other related charges.
During Monday’s hearing, a proxy counsel for the state requested one final opportunity to address the court, following which Justice Ohri reluctantly agreed and scheduled the next hearing for February 28, 2025. This decision comes after the court had previously issued a notice on Imam’s petition in June 2023, where it also granted time for the prosecution to file a status report.
The first supplementary chargesheet against Imam was filed on April 16, 2020, adding serious allegations such as sedition and promoting enmity between different groups. Imam’s legal team has argued that the multiple criminal proceedings and charges for the same speech are unconstitutional.
Despite being granted regular bail by a trial court on September 30, 2022, for the FIR connected to the speech at Jamia, Imam continues to be detained due to other pending cases. These include charges related to the larger conspiracy behind the riots in the northeast area of Delhi in February 2020, following the anti-CAA protests.
