Delhi riots: Sharjeel Imam’s speeches indicated Muslims have no hope, prosecution tells court

The special public prosecutor alleged that Imam was inciting violence with his comments and challenging the sovereignty of the Indian government.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Sep 3, 2021 07:44 AM IST

Sharjeel Imam, Sharjeel Imam sedition case, Sharjeel Imam case, Sharjeel Imam JNU, Delhi riots, Delhi police, delhi city news

The SPP submitted that Sharjeel Imam was challenging the sovereignty of the Indian government.

While arguing for framing of charges against JNU student Sharjeel Imam in a northeast Delhi riots UAPA case, the prosecution told a court that his speeches give a clear indication that Muslims have no hope and his alleged call to burn detention camps was not peaceful.

Special public prosecutor Amit Prasad made the submissions before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat who adjourned the matter for further hearing to September 4.

On the last date of hearing, the SPP had told the court that Imam tried to create anarchy with his speeches which were addressed to a particular community. He had also submitted that since Imam began one of his speeches with the traditional Muslim greeting ‘Assalamu-alaikum’, it showed his address was meant for a particular community.

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On Thursday, Prasad began the hearing by reading out a speech delivered by Imam on January 22 in Asansol. The SPP told the court Imam has “made it abundantly clear that CAA or NRC is not the issue.”

“The issues were triple talaq, Kashmir for which the mobilisation was happening. Also in past speeches, he has given a clear indication that everything is over, as Muslims you have no hope,” Prasad told the court.

The SPP submitted that Imam was challenging the sovereignty of the Indian government. “He says the Indian government cannot formulate the law in India. That is what he questions…This is what I’m trying to say, he is trying to imbibe a sense of hopelessness that we have no hope left,” he told the court.

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While reading out a specific portion from the speech on Imam’s purported comment on setting fire to detention camps, the SPP submitted, “What could be more to say that he is inciting violence? He says that detention camps must be burned. How can someone say that this is peaceful?”

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“The first step is to bring people together, give them anger from within and then utilise it. And we must keep in mind that he is somebody who has done his thesis on riots. He knows what he is saying. He is not someone like me who doesn’t know how to do it,” Prasad told the court.

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On August 23, Imam’s lawyers wrapped up arguments for his bail in the UAPA case. His lawyers had submitted that “without criticism a society dies and becomes a heap of sheep.”

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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