Imam has requested the Court to club all FIRs related to his speeches delivered at Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University, claiming that only one FIR should remain since they are all based on the same speech.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday made a key observation in the ongoing legal matter involving Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case.
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The Court noted that there are several FIRs (First Information Reports) registered against Imam in different states for the same speech, and suggested that these FIRs could be put on hold to avoid multiple trials for one offence.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar was hearing Sharjeel Imam’s petition.
Imam has requested the Court to club all FIRs related to his speeches delivered at Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University, claiming that only one FIR should remain since they are all based on the same speech.
The Court observed:
“We can stay trial in other cases of States.. Manipur, Arunachal, UP.. and let it go in Delhi?”
Imam was represented by Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, who argued that Imam was being unfairly targeted in multiple states for a single act of speech.
Dave submitted:
“He cannot be dragged across India for one speech he had made and there cannot be multiple prosecutions for the same offence.”
“For one case can, there be 500 prosecutions. Please let it be before summer vacations,” he pleaded, urging the Court to hear the case on priority.
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However, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for the government, opposed the plea. He contended that the offences in different states were not identical, since the speech allegedly incited mobs in various locations, thereby leading to different consequences.
Raju argued:
“Offences in these are different as mob instigation happened in different places.”
In response, the Supreme Court made a noteworthy remark:
“But the speech is one and the same. Speech is on YouTube etc and then it can be heard across India.. impact will be the same.”
Currently, Imam is booked under multiple serious charges, including sedition and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). While Delhi Police have filed three separate cases against him, including one in the larger conspiracy case of the Northeast Delhi riots, Imam also faces legal proceedings in Assam, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Imam had first approached the Supreme Court in 2020, stating that since all FIRs stem from the same speech, there should not be separate criminal cases in different states. He has long maintained that a single FIR should be allowed to proceed.
ASG Raju insisted that he would cite past judgments to prove that the cases were legally distinguishable. Following this, the Court decided to adjourn the hearing and gave both sides time to submit their arguments in writing.
The Court concluded with:
“Okay file your submissions. List it after two weeks. Let it remain on board,”
This means the case will remain active and will be heard again after two weeks, potentially just before the summer vacation of the Supreme Court.
CASE TITLE- SHARJEEL IMAM Versus GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS.
