NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Tuesday granted 7-day interim bail to Sharjeel Imam, an accused in 2020 Delhi riots case, to attend his cousin brothers' marriage from October 4 to October 10 in New Delhi and Bihar, respectively.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai granted relief to Imam on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000, and one surety of the like amount. The judge said that it was Imam’s second plea for interim bail and that it was for attending the marriage of his cousins It said, “In this situation he be granted bail.”
The court has directed Imam to surrender before the jail authorities on the evening of October 10.
The judge also imposed various conditions, including that he shall not contact any person or witnesses connected with the case, or use social media. He can only meet his family members.
Imam had sought two weeks’ interim bail, from September 30 to October 13, to attend the marriage of his two cousin brothers, Danish Imam and Fahad Imam. He claimed that the marriages were scheduled on October 4 in Delhi, and on October 7 in Sasaram, Bihar, respectively.
The judge passed the order after Delhi Police filed a reply verifying the fact of the marriages.
However, during the hearing, the prosecution opposed the plea, stating that the allegations against the accused were serious and that his regular bail was rejected several times by the court.
“Neither his (Imam’s) presence nor any financial help from the accused is required. The accused has several cousins. If he is granted bail on the ground of marriage, he will keep demanding the same again and again,” the prosecutor claimed.
Imam is an accused in the case along with Umar Khalid, both of whom have been chargesheeted under stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Their regular bail is currently pending before the Delhi High Court.
