The verdict on Sharjeel Imam’s interim bail application in the sedition case was deferred by a Delhi court on today. On July 7, 2022, the court is expected to issue the order.
In light of the Supreme Court’s recent guidance on the law of sedition, Sharjeel had applied to the trial court for bail. On June 6, the court had reserved the order. The order was set to be issued by Additional Sessions Judge Amitab Rawat on Friday. Sharjeel Imam was filmed from Tihar Jail via videoconferencing. VC notified the parties during the proceedings that the order on the bail application and case hearing had been postponed until July 7.
District Judge has set Friday as the start date. However, the judge’s reader was notified that it was a working day earlier.
The next hearing will be held by VC at the request of Sharjeel’s lawyer, Advocate Talib Mustafa.
On the interim bail motion, the court sent notice to the Delhi Police on May 30.
Sharjeel applied for bail in the sedition case at a lower court on May 27. After the prosecution raised the issue of maintainability, his lawyer withdrew the bail application from the Delhi High Court. The High Court had instructed him to seek bail from the lower court.
Talib Hussain, Ahmed Ibrahim, and Kartik Venu had filed the bail application.
According to the motion, Sharjeel Imam should be granted bail in light of a recent Supreme Court order.
The trial should stay, and Sharjeel Imam should be released on interim bail, according to advocate Talib Hussain, in light of the Supreme Court’s instruction on the Sedition statute.
The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP), on the other hand, maintained that even though the sedition proceedings were delayed by the Supreme Court, a portion of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) was invoked. These sections must not be overlooked. The accused should not be given interim bail in these circumstances.
The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has opened an investigation into Sharjeel Imam’s reportedly controversial statements delivered around the country in protest of the CAA-NRC.
