Delhi High Court Grants Bail to Sharjeel Imam Amid Prolonged Pre-Trial Detention

On May 29, the Delhi High Court granted bail to student activist Sharjeel Imam in a 2020 communal riots case, citing his prolonged pre-trial detention. The court recognized that Imam had already served more than half of the potential maximum sentence for the charges against him, including sedition and unlawful activities under the UAPA.

Imam had been in custody since January 28, 2020, and appealed against a trial court’s earlier refusal to grant bail. The decision comes as Imam faces multiple charges related to his speeches and alleged involvement in the 2020 riots, while still being held in judicial custody for related conspiracy charges.