New Delhi: Former JNU scholar Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the conspiracy behind the Delhi violence, told the Karkardooma Court on Monday that he cannot be hammered with sedition as his speeches did not call for violence.
Imam has moved the court seeking bail in a case related to speeches made by him at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) on December 13, 2019, and at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on December 16, where he allegedly threatened to “cut off” Assam and the rest of the North-east from India. He is in judicial custody since January 28, 2020.
During the hearing, advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir, representing the accused, apprised Additional Sessions, Judge Amitabh Rawat, that no part of his speech called for any kind of violence to be initiated.
He further said that the right to protest, the right to blockade, and the right to bring the country to a standstill is not equal to an act of sedition adding that Imam is merely a student and not a member of any terrorist organisation or any gang.
READ: Delhi riots: Court takes cognizance of offences of sedition against Umar Khalid, 17 others
“The speech did not call for violence. He just called for a road blockade. He did not say that the northeast should become a different state and declare independence. That would have been seditious,” advocate Mir added.
Advocate Amit Prasad appearing on the behalf of Delhi Police said that their argument will be of two types. The first is whether a case of sedition is made out or not. They will argue on both the bail and the charge sheet together, as the facts of both are the same. He sought time to present the arguments.
The court adjourned the matter for hearing on September 1 and 2..
Last year, Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against Imam in the case, in which it alleged that he allegedly gave speeches inciting hatred, contempt, and disaffection towards the Central Government and instigated the people which led to the violence in December 2019. “In the garb of CAA, he (Imam) exhorted people of a particular community to block highways leading to major cities and resort to 'chakka jaam'. Also, in the name of opposing CAA, he openly threatened to cut off Assam and other Northeastern states from the rest of the country,” the charge sheet had said.
