Trial court got swayed by allegations, no reason to refuse bail to Sharjeel Imam: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court granted statutory bail to activist Sharjeel Imam, noting that the trial court was swayed by the severity of allegations against him in a sedition and UAPA case. \r

Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain stated there was no justifiable reason to deny bail under Section 436A of the CrPC, emphasizing that serious allegations alone aren't grounds to reject bail. Imam, who spent four years in jail, argued for bail, citing the Supreme Court's suspension of the sedition law and the UAPA charges' maximum seven-year sentence. \r

The trial court had denied bail, attributing the Delhi riots to Imam's speeches, but the High Court found no substantial basis to withhold bail. Imam remains in jail due to another case.