Published 12:00 IST, April 18th 2020
Sharjeel Imam charge-sheeted for 'seditious speech' & abetting riots during CAA protests
Almost three months after the arrest, the Delhi Police has charge-sheeted organiser of Shaheen Bagh protest Sharjeel Imam for his alleged seditious speech
Almost three months after the arrest, Delhi Police has on Saturday filed a supplementary charge-sheet against former JNU student and organiser of Shaheen Bagh protest Sharjeel Imam for his alleged seditious speech reportedly in Aligarh. He is also charge-sheeted for 'abetting riots' in New Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia on December 15 last year, following the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). After massive man-hunt, Imam was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad district on January 28 after which he was sent to jail.
"In the case of FIR no. 242/19 PS New Friends Colony, Sharjeel Imam was arrested for instigating and abetting the Jamia riots, due to his seditious speech delivered on December 13, 2019. During the investigation, on the basis of evidence collected, sections 124 A IPC and 153 A IPC (Sedition and promoting enmity) were invoked in the case. In this case, the first charge-sheet was filed against the rioters arrested by the SIT led by Shri Rajesh Deo. A Supplementary charge-sheet in continuation of the earlier charge-sheet has now been filed in the court of MM Saket court," Delhi Police said.
According to police, riots broke out 'in consequence to the protest march organised by Jamia students" against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the area of New Friends Colony and Jamia on December last year. "The mob indulged in large scale rioting, stone-pelting and arson, and in the process destroyed many public and private properties. Cases of rioting, arson and damage to public properties were registered in both the police stations. Many policemen and public persons were injured in the riots," Delhi Police said.
The Guwahati police had detained Imam on February 20 from Crime Branch in the Panbazar area, after Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate court granted custody. He was then sent to jail.
Imam's shocking remarks
Sharjeel Imam, former JNU student and a PhD scholar was a key organizer of the Shaheen Bagh protests. His controversial remarks came to light on January 25 when BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra shared a video that featured him. In the video purportedly from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, he is heard saying that 5 lakh people can come together and permanently 'cut the North-East from India'. Moreover, he stressed that this was the only way in which the Indian government would pay heed to the concerns of the protesters.
In the video, Imam said, "If we have 5 lakh organized people then we can permanently cut north-east from India or at least for one month. Put so much (unclear) on the road that they cannot even remove it for a month. It is our responsibility to isolate Assam from India, then only they will listen to us."
Updated 12:35 IST, April 18th 2020