New Delhi [India], October 31 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the trial court to examine the prosecution witnesses in a case against Sharjeel Imam except for the ones who are to be examined to prove the offence of Sedition. The Supreme Court in May had stayed the cases related to the alleged offence of Sedition.
Sharjeel Imam in July 2022 had moved two pleas seeking a stay on trial in a case of Sedition against him and an interim bail in the matter.
His pleas earlier were dismissed by the trial court. He moved the trial court in the light of the Supreme Court judgement on the Sedition law.
The Division bench comprising justices Mukta Gupta and Anish Dayal directed to examine and cross-examine 20 prosecution witnesses in a Sedition case against Sharjeel Imam.
The court asked to examine these witnesses except for six witnesses including police officers and sanction authorities related to the offence of Sedition. There were a total of 43 Prosecution witnesses.
The court said that examine these witnesses and come on the next date. We will decide the issue of interim bail subject to the outcome on the issue of the law of Sedition pending before the Supreme.
The matter has been listed on January 12, 2023, for further hearing. Two other applications are listed on April 10, 2023.
The bench noted that Sharjeel Imam was arrested on January 28, 2020, and he has been in custody for almost three years. It was also noted that the maximum punishment in the section of UAPA levelled against him is 7 years. The maximum punishment in other sections related to promoting enmity between people is 3 years.
Earlier, a Delhi Court had declined to stay the trial going on against Sharjeel Imam in a sedition case. His counsels had orally prayed for a stay in the case in view of directions passed by the Supreme Court on sedition law in May 2022.
This story was originally published in aninews.in . Read the full story here
