Delhi High Court Dismisses Sharjeel Imam's Plea for Early Hearing

The Delhi High Court has dismissed Sharjeel Imam's request for an early hearing on his bail plea, scheduled for October 7. Imam, in custody since January 2020, is accused in the larger conspiracy of the 2020 Delhi riots. His bail appeal has been pending for 28 months.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed Sharjeel Imam's plea for an early hearing on his bail application, which is listed for October 7. Imam, accused in the larger conspiracy related to the 2020 Delhi riots, has been in custody since January 28, 2020, with his bail plea pending for 28 months.

The division bench, led by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, rejected the request, stating the matter is already set for a fixed time on October 7, making preponement unnecessary. Imam had challenged a trial court's decision dismissing his bail plea, and his appeal has been pending for the past 28 months.

Represented by Advocates Talib Mustafa and Ahmad Ibrahim, Imam sought an urgent hearing on his criminal appeal against an April 2022 Karkardooma Court order that denied his regular bail. The plea highlighted that the NIA Act mandates appeals be resolved within three months from admission, yet Imam's appeal, pending since April 2022, has seen at least 62 hearings before seven different benches. Frequent bench changes have caused repeated delays.

During the last substantial hearing, Imam concluded his arguments before a bench comprising Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain on March 19, 2024. However, due to time constraints, the respondent's arguments couldn't be completed. Further hearings were rescheduled, but another bench reallocation occurred before the respondent's arguments concluded.

Imam's plea cited Supreme Court judgments and guidelines urging expedited bail decisions within 2-4 weeks. It also noted the trial has been pending before the Special Court since 2020, with the prosecution yet to frame charges, intending to examine over 1,000 witnesses and relying on extensive documentation.

Sharjeel Imam, a Ph.D. student in Modern History at Jawaharlal Nehru University, has reportedly been unable to pursue his education due to his prolonged incarceration.

(With inputs from agencies.)