This Article is From Jul 25, 2020

Sedition Case Against Former JNU Student Sharjeel Imam Over Anti-CAA Violence

The police, in the chargesheet, have alleged that Sharjeel Imam openly defied the Constitution and called it a "fascist" document.

Sedition Case Against Former JNU Student Sharjeel Imam Over Anti-CAA Violence

The chargesheet accused Sharjeel Imam of delivering seditious speeches that led to violence (File)

New Delhi:

The Delhi Police on Saturday charged former JNU student Sharjeel Imam with sedition before a Delhi court for allegedly inciting people to indulge in activities detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

The police made the allegations in its chargesheet filed before the court in a case related to the anti-CAA riots earlier this year.

The agency filed the final report under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for sedition, promoting enmity, promoting enmity, hatred between different communities, assertion prejudicial to national integration and spreading rumors and also under the sections of stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

"He is accused of delivering seditious speeches and inciting a particular section of community to indulge in unlawful activities, detrimental to sovereignty and integrity of the nation," the chargesheet said.

"In the garb of protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act, he exhorted people of a particular community to block the highways leading to the major cities and resort to 'Chakka Jam', thereby disrupting normal life," it said.

It further alleged that Sharjeel Imam openly defied the Constitution and called it a "fascist" document.

"In the name of opposing 'CAA' he also openly propagated blocking the 'chicken neck' connecting the mainland India with the northeast. He also showed utter contempt and disregard for the democratic means of protest," it said.

The court is likely to take up the matter for hearing on July 27.

Sharjeel Imam is being probed for his alleged inflammatory speech at Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13 and subsequently on January 16 at Aligarh Muslim University, where he allegedly threatened to "cut off" Assam and the rest of the northeast from India. He is currently lodged at the Central Jail in Guwahati where is has tested positive for coronavirus.

The police had earlier submitted before the court that after his speech on December 13, widespread arson and violence took place in various parts of Delhi, and that several protest sites emerged after his January 16 speech.

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