On Tuesday, the Supreme Court signaled that it may consider clubbing the multiple FIRs filed across various states against student activist Sharjeel Imam in connection with a 2020 speech allegedly linked to the Delhi riots conspiracy. The plea was adjourned for two weeks, with the Court granting time to the government to file a detailed response.
A Bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar observed that to avoid parallel proceedings for the same offence, trials in states such as Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh could potentially be stayed.
Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, appearing for Imam, argued that the activist was being prosecuted in multiple jurisdictions for the same speech, which was publicly available online and accessible across the country. “He cannot be dragged from one state to another for a single act,” Dave submitted, urging the Court to hear the matter before the summer recess.
In contrast, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju contended that the consequences of the speech varied by region, and that distinct acts of mob incitement had occurred in different states, thereby justifying separate FIRs.
However, the Bench remarked that since the same speech formed the basis of all charges, its impact was not state-specific. “The speech was on YouTube. It could be accessed from anywhere,” the Court noted.
Sharjeel Imam, a former JNU scholar, has been charged under various FIRs—including those invoking sedition and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)—filed in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur, as well as in three separate cases in Delhi.
Imam originally moved the Supreme Court in 2020 seeking consolidation of all FIRs related to the same speech, citing protection against double jeopardy under Article 20(2) of the Constitution.
Following ASG Raju’s submission that he would place judgments supporting the government’s position, the Court granted additional time and listed the matter for hearing in two weeks.
