Judicial Lens on Liberty: Sharjeel Imam Seeks Apex Court’s Intervention for Bail in Delhi Riots Conspiracy Matter

Syed Ali Taher Abedi

Delhi 6, September,2025-Sharjeel Imam, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student, has approached the Supreme Court seeking bail in a case registered against him under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Imam has been in custody since January 2020, after multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged in connection with speeches delivered by him during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Imam was arrested following allegations that his speeches at Jamia Millia Islamia and elsewhere were inflammatory in nature and capable of inciting unrest. Besides the case in Delhi, he was also booked in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur on similar charges relating to his addresses during that period.

In his plea before the Supreme Court, Imam has contended that he has been incarcerated for over five years without trial reaching any conclusion, and that continued detention violates his fundamental rights. He has sought enlargement on bail arguing that the speeches made by him do not amount to terrorism or incitement to violence and that the bar under Section 43D (5) of the UAPA should not be mechanically applied.

The trial court as well as the Delhi High Court had earlier declined to grant him bail, noting the gravity of charges and the stage of proceedings. The apex court is now seized of his petition and is expected to examine whether prolonged incarceration in the absence of conclusion of trial justifies grant of bail in a UAPA matter.