Delhi Court Sends JNU Student Sharjeel Imam To 5-Day Police Custody

Imam was produced at the residence of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Purushottam Pathak in the evening amidst high security informed advocate Mishika Singh who is appearing for the JNU research scholar in the matter.

Former JNU student and CAA activist Sharjeel Imam, accused of allegedly making inflammatory statements, is taken to court from the crime branch, at Chanakyapuri in New Delhi. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Controversial Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student and activist Sharjeel Imam on Wednesday was sent to five days of police custody a day after being arrested in Bihar's Jehanabad by Delhi Police. Imam was arrested in sedition charges for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at a rally against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Imam was produced at the residence of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Purushottam Pathak in the evening amidst high security informed advocate Mishika Singh who is  appearing for the JNU research scholar in the matter. Imam was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on Tuesday for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. He was brought to the national capital earlier in the day. According to reports, the situation in the Patiala House Courts Complex was tense after the Delhi Police informed that Imam would be produced before the magistrate. ALSO WATCH | Investigation Underway Over Sharjeel Imam's Link With PFI Some lawyers even raised slogans against Imam, held up posters calling him a 'traitor' and demanded that he be hanged. Heavy security, including CRPF personnel, was deployed outside the court premises. Delhi Police, in a press conference on Tuesday evening, said that it arrested the PhD student at the JNU's Centre for Historical Studies. However, Imam, who is said to be among the core organisers of the protest against the amended citizenship law at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh has claimed that he had surrendered before the police. "I have surrendered to the Delhi Police on 28. 1. 2020 at 3 PM. I am ready and willing to to operate with the investigation. I have full faith in due process of law. My safety and security are now in the hand of Delhi Police. Let peace prevail," he tweeted. Delhi Police also questioned him in the lock-up. Imam, however, evaded most of the questions, sources said adding that his mobile phone has been seized for investigation. ALSO WATCH | Ground Report From Sharjeel Imam's Village In Bihar An FIR was registered against Imam by Delhi Police on January 25 under IPC sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 A (promoting or attempting to promote disharmony or feelings of enmity on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever) among others. Imam had been booked for sedition on January 26 after a video of his comments on Assam, shot on January 25 in Delhi, went viral on social media. Besides the Delhi Police, police in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh have also registered cases against him under various sections, including sedition.