Sharjeel Imam was released on Sunday for seven days, October 4 to 10, to attend his cousins’ weddings. His brother told Karvaan India the family hopes for permanent bail early next year.
Activist Sharjeel Imam walked out of Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Sunday, October 4, on interim bail granted by a Delhi court so that he can attend his cousins’ weddings. The bail covers October 4 to October 10.
Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Courts granted the relief on September 22 in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, in which Imam is booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His counsel, Ahmad Ibrahim, said the weddings are of two cousins and will take place in Delhi and Bihar. Imam’s brother Muzammil announced the bail on X.
The conditions
The court directed Imam not to contact any witness or person connected with the case and barred him from using social media or coming in contact with any media person during the interim bail period. Imam was arrested on January 28, 2020, and has been in custody for more than six years.
This is not his first interim bail. In March, a Delhi court granted him 10 days to attend his brother’s wedding and care for his ailing mother. At that time, the court’s conditions included two sureties of Rs 50,000 each, his counsel said. Reports so far have not given the full terms of the current order.
“We are hopeful”
Imam’s brother, Muzammil Imam, told Karvaan India that the family is looking ahead. “We are hopeful that ultimately justice will be served and that he will get a permanent bail early next year from Supreme Court,” he said.
The timeline he points to matches the court’s own. The Supreme Court’s January 5 order allows Imam and Umar Khalid to seek bail again after a year, or once protected witnesses have been examined, whichever is earlier.
Where his case stands
The relief is temporary and does not change his position in the case. On September 30, the Delhi High Court refused regular bail to Imam and Umar Khalid, saying it was bound by the Supreme Court’s January 5 order. The Delhi Police have opposed Imam’s bail pleas, describing him as one of the “masterminds” of the alleged conspiracy. Imam denies the allegations.
For seven days, Imam is out of Tihar with no right to speak to the press or post online. His family’s hopes rest on January. Until then, his regular bail plea waits where the High Court left it on September 30.