Violence during anti-CAA protest: Delhi police names Sharjeel Imam as 'instigator' in charge sheet

The Delhi police has named Sharjeel Imam as an "instigator" in its charge sheet filed against 17 people in a case related to violence during protests against the amended citizenship law at New Friends Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia university last year.

The accused, none of whom are students from Jamia, have been charged with rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and other offences under the Indian Penal Code.

The charge sheet was filed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur, who sent Imam to judicial custody till March 3 after he was produced in the court on expiry of his custodial interrogation on Tuesday.

Imam was arrested in the case, after an accused in the December 15 violence had alleged that he was provoked by Imam's speeches made during a protest, court sources said.

While citing statement of one of the protesters, Mohd Furkan, the police said in the charge sheet that "the atmosphere was highly surcharged due to CAA protest and violent incidents of rioting in Jamia.

"On that day, one Sharjeel Imam, student of JNU also gave provocative speeches against CAA and due to the same he (Furkan) and his associates were also frenzied and involved in protest."