Delhi Riots Accused Sharjeel Imam Walks Out Of Jail After Six Years; Granted Bail For Brother's Wedding

New Delhi: Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the Delhi riots case, has walked out of jail after nearly six years. A Delhi court has granted Imam 10 days of interim bail. On Friday, as he stepped out through the gates of Tihar Jail, the immense joy of this "brief freedom" was clearly visible on his face. He was seen smiling and flashing a 'victory sign' in front of the media cameras.

Why was Sharjeel Imam granted bail? 

On March 9, a Delhi court granted 10 days of interim bail—subject to several conditions—to Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, to allow him to attend a family function. Imam has been directed not to meet anyone other than his friends, relatives, or family members, and not to visit any location other than those specified in his petition. Furthermore, he has been prohibited from using social media.

In the court of Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai, Imam had sought a six-week relief period to attend his brother's wedding ceremony and to spend time with his family during the festival of Eid. Imam's brother's wedding is scheduled for March 25. The court also directed Imam to furnish a personal bond of ₹50,000 and provide two sureties of the same amount.

How did Sharjeel Imam react?

After completing the necessary formalities, Sharjeel Imam walked out of Tihar Jail on Friday. Amidst a light drizzle, several family members had arrived to receive him. Sharjeel Imam did not answer any questions posed by the media and, while evading them, quickly got into a car. However, once seated inside the car, he appeared to be smiling broadly. Additionally, he expressed his happiness by flashing a 'victory sign.'

What are the conditions to be adhered to?

- Imam is prohibited from establishing any form of contact with any witness or individual associated with the case.

- Sharjeel Imam has been directed to provide his mobile number to the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case.

- Sharjeel must surrender himself before the jail authorities on the evening of March 30.

What was Sharjeel Imam's demand before the court?

Imam had sought interim bail for a period of six weeks—from March 15 to April 26—to attend a wedding; however, the court granted bail for a duration of only 10 days. Imam is an accused in a case related to the riots that took place in North-East Delhi in February 2020, in which 53 people were killed and over 700 were injured. This violence erupted during widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

What are the allegations against Sharjeel Imam?

According to the police, he allegedly created and operated a WhatsApp group for Muslim students of JNU, which served as a coordination mechanism for mobilization and for identifying protest sites. The police have accused Imam of participating in clandestine meetings held in Jangpura, where strategies to organize *Chakka Jam* (road blockades) and to further intensify the protests were discussed. According to the police, Imam's role was not limited solely to Delhi; rather, by traveling to Aligarh and other locations, he also functioned as a mass mobilizer and ideologue.

The police have further accused Imam of playing a pivotal role in the establishment and sustenance of the Shaheen Bagh protest site, which evolved into a prolonged, round-the-clock demonstration on a major arterial road. The police have alleged that Imam's role was foundational and instrumental in the initial stages, and that once the plan was set in motion, his physical presence at the site of violence was not a prerequisite for the conspiracy.