Sharjeel Imam Denies Link to Umar Khalid as Delhi Court Weighs UAPA Charges

The hearing centers on whether the trial court should frame conspiracy charges in FIR 59 under the UAPA following the Supreme Court’s refusal of his bail this week.

Overview

Imam told Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai at Karkardooma Courts that Umar Khalid was not his mentor and that there was no coordination between them.
He said he never spoke to Khalid during five years at JNU and maintained he advocated non-violence during anti-CAA protests.
His counsel argued the prosecution has not shown any agreement necessary to establish conspiracy, noting a witness account of the sole meeting shows no discussion of violence.
The case stems from FIR 59 of 2020, a Delhi Police Special Cell investigation alleging a larger conspiracy in the North East Delhi riots under the UAPA and IPC.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court denied bail to Imam and Khalid but granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed, and Muhammad Saleem Khan while directing expedited trial proceedings.