Delhi court dismisses 2019 Jamia violence case involving Sharjeel Imam and Asif Tanha

New Delhi : Sharjeel Imam, a student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Asif Iqbal Tanha, a student activist, were exonerated of all charges on Saturday by a Delhi court hearing a case involving violence that erupted after a clash between Delhi Police and people protesting against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Judge Arul Verma of the Saket court’s additional sessions division issued the directive.

A ruling on the case is awaited.

Sharjeel Imam and Asif Iqbal Tanha were both released on bail in the case at one point. However, Sharjeel would remain in prison pending trial on a conspiracy charge stemming from the northeast Delhi riots in February 2020, as required by India’s strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA.

After a scuffle between police and protesters against the CAA, the police filed a First Information Report (FIR) under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rioting, in connection with the ensuing communal violence.

On December 13, 2019, at Jamia Milia Islamia University, and on December 16, 2019, at Aligarh Muslim University, Imam allegedly made speeches in which he threatened to cut off Assam and other Northeast states from the rest of India, according to the prosecution.