Delhi Court Finds Sharjeel Imam Breached Interim Bail Condition but Declines Cancellation

A Delhi court found that Sharjeel Imam had breached a condition of his seven-day interim bail in the Delhi riots conspiracy case but declined to cancel the relief hours before its expiry.

Background and legal issue

The prosecution relied on videos showing Imam in the same room while his brother gave a media interview. The defence maintained that Imam himself had not spoken to journalists and that the clips had been combined from separate recordings.

Legal reasoning and context

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai examined the recordings and concluded that Imam’s presence during the media interaction violated the order prohibiting contact with media persons. The Court nevertheless considered immediate cancellation unnecessary because surrender was due that evening.

Legal effect and next step

The finding concerns compliance with interim bail, not the merits of the underlying UAPA prosecution. Imam remained obliged to surrender on October 10.