6 hrs ago
Delhi Court Finds Imam Flouted Bail Condition, Declines Cancellation
Sharjeel Imam received temporary bail so he could attend wedding events in his family.
The rules said he could not contact media people or use social media.
Police said videos showed him in a room where a journalist interviewed his brother.
Imam’s lawyers said the videos were made from separate clips and did not prove he was there during the interview.
The court thought it was likely he was in the room and said he apparently broke a bail rule.
But Imam was already travelling to Delhi to return to jail.
So the court did not cancel his bail.
It disposed of the police request.
Delhi Police asked the court to cancel Sharjeel Imam’s interim bail, alleging he breached a restriction on media contact.
The court said video footage made it probable that Imam was in the room while a journalist interviewed his brother.
Imam’s lawyers denied media interaction and argued the footage combined separate clips that did not prove he was present during the interview.
The court declined to cancel bail after being told Imam had boarded a flight to Delhi and would surrender that evening.
Imam’s seven-day interim bail, from October 4 to 10, was granted so he could attend his cousin’s wedding functions.
- Who
- Student activist Sharjeel Imam, Delhi Police, and Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai.
- What
- The court found Imam apparently breached a media-contact condition but declined the police request to cancel his interim bail.
- Where
- Karkardooma Courts, Delhi.
- When
- The ruling was issued on October 10; Imam’s interim bail ran from October 4 to October 10.
- Why
- Police alleged that videos showed Imam in the room during a journalist’s interview with his brother; the court declined cancellation after learning Imam was on his way to surrender.
Delhi Police and Prosecution
Imam’s Defence
Whether Imam was present during the interview
Delhi Police and Prosecution
The prosecution said video footage showed Imam in the room while a journalist interviewed his brother. The court found it probable that Imam was present during the interview.
Imam’s Defence
Imam’s counsel denied that he interacted with media and argued that the video combined separate clips, so it did not establish that he was present during the interview. The defence also noted there was no restriction on his brother speaking to the media.
Whether bail should be cancelled
Delhi Police and Prosecution
Delhi Police sought cancellation, alleging Imam deliberately breached the restriction on contact with media and misused the liberty granted to him.
Imam’s Defence
The defence opposed cancellation. The court declined to cancel bail after being told Imam had boarded a flight to Delhi and would surrender to jail authorities that evening.
Key facts
- Judge
- Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai
- Court
- Karkardooma Courts, Delhi
- Interim bail period
- October 4 to October 10
- Purpose of bail
- To attend his cousin’s wedding functions
- Relevant bail restrictions
- No social media use or contact with media persons; meetings limited to family members, relatives and friends
- Police evidence
- Video clips posted on YouTube and X, including footage of Imam’s brother being interviewed
- Outcome
- The court said Imam apparently flouted a bail condition but disposed of the police application without cancelling bail
- Underlying case
- The larger conspiracy case connected to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots
Quotes
Judge Sameer Bajpai
Additional Sessions Judge who considered the state’s application to cancel Imam’s interim bail.
“As far as the cancellation of the interim bail is concerned, the accused has already boarded a flight and will reach Delhi in the evening and will surrender. Therefore, under these circumstances, it will not be appropriate for the court to pass an order for cancellation of bail.”
theprint.in
“Apparently, these facts and circumstances show that the mediaperson was there in the same room where the accused was also sitting. Thus, apparently the accused has flouted term ii of the bail order dated September 22, 2026, whereby he was granted interim bail.”
theprint.in
Ahmad Ibrahim
Sharjeel Imam’s counsel
“Sharjeel Imam has been granted interim bail for a period of seven days to attend the weddings of two of his cousins. The functions are scheduled across Delhi and Bihar; one marriage will take place in Delhi and the other in Bihar. The reception is scheduled to take place on October 9 in Jehanabad, their hometown.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Delhi Court Notes Sharjeel Imam Violated Interim Bail Condition Over Media Interaction, Declines to Cancel Bail
Delhi Police move court to cancel Sharjeel Imam's interim bail, say media gag condition breached
Sharjeel Imam flouted bail condition but no need to cancel bail as he is on way to surrender: Delhi court
Delhi court refuses to cancel Sharjeel Imam’s bail, but says he flouted conditions
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