2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case: Sharjeel Imam moves SC against HC order denying him bail

Arrested in 2020, Imam's bail plea was pending before the HC since the last three years after the trial court refused him bail.

Written by Sohini Ghosh

New Delhi | Updated: September 6, 2025 11:23 PM IST

Sharjeel Imam moves Supreme Court against Delhi HC order denying him bail in Delhi riots case

Prior to Justices Chawla and Kaur hearing his bail plea, it had been listed for hearing at least 62 times before seven division benches of the HC, Imam's counsels said. (Express Archive/Anil Sharma)

An accused in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, activist Sharjeel Imam on Saturday moved the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court on September 1 rejected his bail plea along with that of nine other accused.

While dismissing Imam’s argument that he was in custody at the time of the riots, the bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur had instead taken into consideration the prosecution’s allegation that “all the initial planning, creation of groups, conceptualisation, and incitement regarding the CAA-NRC [Citizenship (Amendment) Act-National Register of Citizens] had been completed by that point”.

Arrested in 2020, Imam’s bail plea was pending before the HC since the last three years after the trial court refused him bail.

Prior to Justices Chawla and Kaur hearing his bail plea, it had been listed for hearing at least 62 times before seven division benches of the HC, Imam’s counsels said.

The HC, along with Imam’s bail plea, had also rejected student activist Umar Khalid’s bail plea. Additionally, making a prima facie observation against Khalid and Imam, the HC had recorded that it appears the two “were the first ones to act after the CAA was passed in early December 2019, by creating WhatsApp groups and distributing pamphlets in the Muslim-populated areas calling for protests and chakka jaams, including the disruption of essential supplies”.

The 18 accused in the case have been booked for offences under Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

From the homepage