A Delhi court has framed charges against Sharjeel Imam and 11 others in connection with the 2019 violence in the Jamia Nagar area. The Saket Court also acquitted 15 individuals, including Shifa Ur Rahman, in the case.
The court did not frame charges under sections 25/27 of the Arms Act. However, it charged Sharjeel Imam under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 109 (abetment), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity), 143/147/148/149 (rioting), 186 (obstructing public servant), 353 (assaulting public servant), and other sections related to violence and property damage. Imam was also charged under the Public Property Damage Prevention Act.
The court also framed charges against Ashu Khan, Chandan Kumar, and Asif Iqbal Tanha under similar IPC sections, including Section 109 and the Public Property Damage Prevention Act.
Shifa Ur Rahman, along with Mohammad Adil, Ruhul Amin, Mohammad Jamal, Mohammad Umar, Mohammad Shahil, and several others, were acquitted by the court. The court found insufficient evidence against them in the case.
In its decision, the court described Sharjeel Imam as the “mastermind” behind the violence. The court said, “Sharjeel Imam not only provoked one community but was the mastermind behind a larger conspiracy to incite violence.” The court also stated that Imam’s actions led to widespread disruption in several northern states, spreading anger and hatred.
The court rejected Sharjeel Imam’s defense, stating, “It cannot be accepted that the riots caused by crowds on public roads were not a result of his speech.” The court further noted that Imam’s speech was intended to incite anger and hatred, leading to unlawful assembly and violence.
The court also commented on the disruptive nature of the “chakka jam” (roadblock), saying, “There is nothing peaceful about a chakka jam. In a densely populated city like Delhi, it can delay critical medical treatment, worsening the condition of patients, and potentially leading to fatalities.”
