New Delhi: A Delhi court has framed charges against Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, and nine others in connection with the violence that erupted during the 2019 anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in Jamia Nagar, reported the Hindu.
In its order on March 7, Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh at Saket Court described Sharjeel Imam as a key conspirator, stating that his speech near Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13, 2019, was “venomous”, aimed at pitting one religion against another, and amounted to hate speech. The court noted that while Imam avoided direct mention of any community other than Muslims, his call for a ‘chakka jaam’ (road blockade) was directed at disrupting the lives of non-Muslims.
The court emphasized that mass-scale rioting and disruption were not spontaneous but part of a larger conspiracy led by self-proclaimed leaders who instigated mob activity. It further stated that a chakka jaam is inherently violent, as it can obstruct emergency services, endanger lives, and violate fundamental rights.
Charges were framed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act against multiple accused, including Ashu Khan, Chandan Kumar, Anal Hussain, Anwar, Yunus, and Jumman. The court relied on police witnesses and mobile phone records to establish their involvement in the riots.
This case is linked to the 2019-2020 protests at Jamia Millia Islamia and Shaheen Bagh, which erupted after the CAA was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019. The First Information Report (FIR) was registered at New Friends Colony Police Station.
