Delhi riots accused Sharjeel Imam gets 10-day interim bail
What's the story
A Delhi court has granted interim bail to Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case. The bail was granted by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts. Imam has been given a 10-day interim bail from March 20 to 30 to attend his brother's wedding and take care of his ailing mother.
Case background
Northeast Delhi riots
Imam is one of the accused in the larger conspiracy case related to the communal violence that broke out in Northeast Delhi in February 2020. The riots left 53 dead and over 700 injured. The Delhi Police has alleged that this violence was a "pre-planned and well-designed" conspiracy to disturb public order during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Bail denial
SC refused to grant regular bail to Imam, Umar Khalid
Earlier, in January 2026, the Supreme Court had refused to grant regular bail to Imam and co-accused Umar Khalid. The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria had observed that the prosecution had placed sufficient material on record to establish a prima facie case indicating their involvement in an alleged criminal conspiracy. However, the bench granted bail to five others: Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa ur Rehman, Shadab Ahmed and Mohd Saleem Khan.
Court
All defendants not on the same footing: SC
While granting bail to the other five, the court noted that all the defendants are not on the same footing because their roles differ. The bench said, "Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam stand on a qualitatively different footing as compared to other accused." The court allowed Khalid and Imam to apply for bail again after the examination of protected witnesses or after one year from the present order.