Delhi court refuses to cancel Sharjeel Imam’s interim bail over alleged violation of media interaction ban

A court in Delhi refused to revoke the interim bail order granted to Sharjeel Imam, one of the accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots large conspiracy case, on Saturday following allegations against him for violating the condition that forbade him from coming into contact with media personnel.

The decision was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai on an application filed by the prosecution seeking cancellation of Imam’s interim bail.

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The prosecution argued that he had breached the terms and conditions imposed by the court while granting him temporary relief.

According to the application submitted to the court, the prosecution relied on videos circulating on YouTube and the social media platform X, which allegedly showed Imam in the presence of media personnel during his interim bail period.

Court examines videos, rejects defence's arguments

The prosecution alleged that Imam violated these conditions by being present in the room where a journalist interviewed his brother. After examining the videos, the court observed that Imam was sitting in the same room during the interview, and held that he "apparently flouted" one of his bail conditions.

Rejecting the defence’s argument that the video was a compilation of separate clips and that Imam was not present during the interview, the court also said the footage indicated that the clips had been recorded in the same room at approximately the same time.

Meanwhile, the defence further maintained that Imam had neither given an interview nor interacted with any media person. It argued that the interview had been given by his brother, who was not bound by the conditions imposed on Imam.

The matter concerns the FIR that was lodged regarding the riots that occurred in North-East Delhi in the month of February 2020. Imam is one of the accused persons who have been charged under UAPA and other sections of the IPC in the conspiracy case.

The court had granted Imam interim bail for seven days, from October 4 to 10, to attend his cousin’s wedding. The September 22 order granting him relief, however, prohibited him from using social media and interacting with media persons.

(With PTI inputs)