Jamia violence: Sharjeel Imam charged with sedition for 'abetting riots'
Jawaharlal Nehru University PhD student Sharjeel Imam has been slapped with sedition charges in the Jamia Millia Islamia December violence case. The sedition charges were brought up in a supplementary chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police in the Jamia case. The police has accused Imam of "instigating and abetting the Jamia riots" on December 15 with a speech he had made two days before.
According to The Indian Express, the supplementary chargesheet against Imam has been filed in continuation with an earlier chargesheet, filed by a Special Investigation Team led by Rajesh Deo. The chargesheet listed charges under Sections 124A and 153A (Sedition and promoting enmity between classes) of the Indian Penal Code. It was filed in the Saket District Court on Friday.
Additional PRO (Delhi Police) Anil Mittal said, "In case FIR no. 242/19 PS NFC, Sharjeel Imam has been accused of instigating and abetting the Jamia riots, due to his seditious speech delivered on December 13 last year," TIE reported. Mittal added, "During the investigation, on the basis of evidence collected, Sections 124 A and 153 A of the IPC were invoked in the case."
The chargesheet took note of the "serious riots" that broke out in New Friends Colony and Jamia Nagar on December 15. A case was registered in both the police stations. The violence took place after protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act at Jamia Millia Islamia. It witnessed "large scale rioting, stone-pelting, and arson," the police said, and "destroyed many public and private properties."
Imam also faces sedition charges by the Assam and Uttar Pradesh Police over a January 16 anti-CAA speech he made at the Aligarh Muslim University. There are three other cases filed against him. He was arrested from the Kako village in Bihar's Jehanabad district in January. He was produced before a Jehanabad court and then taken on transit remand to Delhi.
