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A Delhi court on Saturday ruled that student activist Sharjeel Imam violated an of his by being present in the same room while a media person interviewed his brother, but declined to cancel the bail as the seven-day period was ending and Imam was already on his way to .
Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the passed the order on a plea by the seeking cancellation of the granted to Imam, an accused in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots . The court examined video footage and concluded that Imam had flouted a term that barred him from coming into contact with media persons during the temporary release.
Violation Found Through Video Evidence
Imam had been granted for seven days from to to attend his cousin’s wedding functions. The order, dated September 22, imposed several conditions, including a prohibition on using social media and interacting with any media person. He was also restricted from meeting anyone outside his family, relatives, and friends.
The approached the court alleging that Imam had grossly violated these conditions. They relied on videos circulated on YouTube and social media platform X, which showed Imam’s brother giving an interview to a news channel while Imam was present in the same room. The prosecution argued that Imam wilfully and deliberately breached the condition, misusing the liberty granted by the court.
Imam’s counsel opposed the plea, contending that Imam had neither given an interview nor interacted with any media person. The defence argued that the video was a compilation of separate clips and that the interview was given by Imam’s brother, who was not subject to any bail restriction. It was also claimed that Imam was not present during the interview.
The court, however, rejected these submissions after carefully examining the footage. The judge noted that the video from the YouTube channel contained four parts. The first part showed Imam’s brother speaking to a journalist from , while the second and third parts showed Imam sitting in the same room with several other persons, including his brother. The fourth part was of a politician and was not relevant.
The court observed that the first three parts appeared to have been recorded in the same room at approximately the same time. It stated: “If all three parts are seen cumulatively, the Court can very well make out that the accused was also sitting there in the room. Thus, in all probability the accused was there when the media person was taking an interview with his brother.”
The court further noted that the portions bearing the logo indicated they had been shot by the same media person. Concluding that Imam was present during the interview, the court held: “Thus, apparently the accused has flouted the term ii of the bail order dated , whereby he was granted .”
Court Declines to Cancel Bail Due to Imminent
Despite finding a violation, the court declined to cancel the . The judge noted that the seven-day bail period was due to expire on , and Imam was required to to jail authorities by that evening. Imam’s counsel submitted that he had already boarded a flight to Delhi and would on time.
Taking this into account, the court disposed of the police’s cancellation application, stating that it would not be appropriate to cancel the bail under these circumstances. The order effectively left the temporary relief to expire as scheduled, with Imam returning to custody.
Background: for Family Wedding
Imam was granted the seven-day to attend wedding ceremonies of his cousins in his native village in Bihar. This was the second temporary release for him in 2026; he had earlier been granted ten days of from to to attend his brother’s wedding. Both releases were subject to strict conditions.
Imam is one of several accused in the linked to the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020 during protests against the . The violence left 53 people dead and hundreds injured. The case is being investigated by the Special Cell under the and various provisions of the .
According to the prosecution, Imam played a significant role in organising protests and delivering inflammatory speeches, including one calling for the separation of the Siliguri Corridor. He was arrested on , and has remained in custody since.
With the on Saturday evening, Imam continues to be lodged in as the trial in the proceeds. The court’s ruling on the bail violation stands as a finding on his conduct during the temporary release, though it did not result in the immediate cancellation of his .
