A Delhi court on Saturday, 10th October, said Sharjeel Imam had breached the conditions of his interim bail after a news channel recorded videos at his residence during his temporary release. However, the court declined to cancel his relief, noting that his seven-day interim bail was due to expire on Saturday.
The Delhi Police had approached the court on Friday, 9th October, seeking cancellation of Imam’s interim bail in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case. The police revealed that he had violated the restrictions imposed by the court by interacting with media persons. Imam was granted seven days of interim bail, from 4th to 10th October, to attend his cousin’s wedding in his native village in Bihar. The relief came with conditions prohibiting him from using social media or interacting with the media.
Court explains how Sharjeel Imam breached bail conditions
In its six-page order released on Saturday, 10th October, the Karkardooma Court examined video footage presented by both the prosecution and the defence during the hearing. Advocate Madhukar Pandey appeared for the prosecution, which argued that Imam had violated the bail conditions by being present while media representatives interviewed his brother.
The court examined a video uploaded to the YouTube channel of News24, which contained four parts. The Court said, “In the first part, the brother of the accused can be seen giving an interview to the news Channel ANI News and talking about the proceedings of the present case. In the second part, the accused can be seen sitting in a room along with 2-3 persons. The third part shows almost the same scene as is there in the second part, but the third part has a wider view from a different angle in which the accused and 6-7 persons can be seen sitting, including his brother who was giving an interview. The fourth part is of some politician and not relevant.”
The court observed that the first three parts appeared to show the same room and had been recorded at almost the same time. It noted: “The whole scene as captured in the said three parts of the relevant video shows that all the three parts are of the same room and the three parts were shot almost at the same time, while all the persons who can be seen in the video were sitting in that room.”
The court further observed that, although the first part showed only Imam’s brother and the media person’s microphone, the other clips helped establish Imam’s presence in the room. It stated, “Although the first part of the video captures only the brother of the accused and the mic of the media person, if all three parts are seen cumulatively, the Court can very well make out that the accused was also sitting there in the room. Thus, in all probability the accused was there when the media person was taking an interview with his brother.”
The court further observed that the circumstances showed that not only the first part, in which Imam’s brother was being interviewed, but also the second and third parts had been recorded by the same ANI News media person. It consequently concluded that Imam had violated the second condition of the bail order dated 22nd September, 2026, which prohibited him from interacting with the media.
Despite observing that Imam had breached the media-related condition, the court declined to cancel his interim bail because the seven-day period was already ending on 10th October.
The Delhi Police had argued that a video showing Imam interacting with media representatives after his release was circulating on social media. According to the police application, “Therefore, the accused grossly violated the aforesaid condition that he shall not come in contact with any media person.”
#WATCH | Jehanabad, Bihar: On Sharjeel Imam, granted interim bail by a Delhi court in connection with the Delhi riots, reached his native village to attend his cousin’s wedding. His brother Muzammil says, "In seven years he got bail for the second time… It is our cousin’s wedding, and for that he got the bail… He has got bail from 4 October to 10 October… Maybe a little late, but we will get justice…" (04.10)
— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2026
The police further said that the violation was deliberate and amounted to misuse of the temporary relief granted by the court. The application stated, “The accused, having been granted the indulgence of liberty, was bound to abide by the conditions attached thereto, and has abused the said liberty and indulgence of this Hon’ble Court. It is clear from the conduct of the accused that he is misusing the liberty granted to him by this Court.”
Sharjeel Imam leaves Patna for Delhi as interim bail concludes
On Saturday, 10th October, Sharjeel Imam left Patna for Delhi to return to prison as his seven-day interim bail came to an end. He had travelled to his native village in Bihar to attend his cousin’s wedding after the Karkardooma Court granted him temporary relief.
VIDEO | Bihar: Sharjeel Imam leaves Patna for Delhi to return to prison as his seven-day interim bail concludes. The Delhi Karkardooma Court granted him a brief interim bail from October 4 to October 10 to travel to Delhi and Bihar to attend family functions. (Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 10, 2026
Imam had earlier been granted ten days of interim bail, from 20th to 30th March, to attend his brother’s wedding. His latest release was also temporary and did not affect the ongoing proceedings in the larger conspiracy case.
Imam’s role in the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots case
Sharjeel Imam is one of the accused in the larger conspiracy case linked to the February 2020 Northeast Delhi riots; the anti-Hindu violence had erupted during the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) agitation. The violence left 53 people dead and hundreds injured.
Sharjeel Imam, infamous for his speech calling for separating the “Siliguri Corridor” (Chicken’s Neck) from India, is charged mainly under UAPA provisions for having a part in unlawful and terrorist activities and conspiracy. The charge sheet stated that he played a role in creating WhatsApp groups and articulating strategies for escalation of protests at the instance of others.
Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Isharat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, and Safoora Zargar are among the accused in this case. Hussain, a former leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, and four other people have already been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Intelligence Bureau employee Ankit Sharma.
