The Delhi Police on Thursday strongly opposed bail pleas filed by activist Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, and others accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, presenting a series of videos in the Supreme Court showing Imam delivering “inflammatory speeches” during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The police argued that intellectuals involved in such activities are more dangerous to society than those operating on the ground.

Sharjeel Imam, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student, has been in judicial custody since 2020, facing charges including sedition and violations under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The videos shown to the Supreme Court were part of the chargesheet evidence and featured him speaking at various locations, including Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh, Chakhand, and Asansol, in late 2019 and early 2020.

In one key video from January 16, 2020, Imam allegedly urged crowds with around 5 lakh people to “permanently cut off India and the North East,” specifically targeting a sensitive 16 km stretch known as the “chicken’s neck” in Siliguri, West Bengal—a vital corridor connecting India’s northeast. He called for disrupting supplies and infrastructure, including blocking railway tracks to isolate Assam, claiming, “It is our responsibility to cut off Assam.” Imam also referenced the abrogation of Kashmir’s special status and the Babri Masjid issue, inciting protests across the country, including calls for a nationwide “chakka jam” (traffic blockade).

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Additional Solicitor General SV Raju stressed that these inflammatory speeches contributed to the tensions that led to the deadly riots in February 2020, which resulted in over 50 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Police further connected Imam’s timing of the speeches to the visit of former US President Donald Trump, suggesting an attempt to attract international media attention.

Defending Imam, senior advocate Siddharth Dave argued that the videos presented by the police were selective snippets taken from lengthy speeches, intended to bias the court against the accused. The Supreme Court bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria is continuing to hear the bail pleas, weighing the evidence against the serious nature of the charges.

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