Aastha Thakur
Published on: 29th July 2022 at 17:13 IST
The Delhi High Court in the sedition case filed against JNU student Sharjeel Imam issued notice to Delhi Police. The appeal was filed against order of lower court denying him interim bail in sedition matter.
The Division Bench comprising of Justices Mukta Gupta and Anish Dayal issued notices on Imam’s plea against court’s refusal to stay the trial in the case. The sitting bench ordered directed the Delhi Police to file a status report within two weeks and listed the case for further hearing on August 25.
The present case is regarding the speech given by Imam at Jamia Milia Islamia in December 2019. The case was registered under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (sedition) against him. The bail plea was heard in this matter on July 23 by the Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat and same had been rejected. The Court stated that:
“The pending trials with respect to the charges framed under Section 124A IPC have been kept in abeyance, however, adjudication with respect to other Sections can proceed if the court is of the opinion that no prejudice would be caused to the accused.”
The Court also underlined there is no restriction for continuation case which has other various charges other than Section 124A IPC. Apart from sedition, Imam has been charged with promoting enmity between groups, public mischief, and offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
Imam bail appeal is still pending in Delhi High Court, as apex court on May 11 passed a landmark judgement directing all the pending cases and proceedings with respect to the charges framed for sedition across the country, be kept in abeyance.
Then, he filed the bail plea before the trial court as directed by the High Court and same was dismissed.
Hence, the present appeal before the High Court is against that order.