New Delhi

Counsel for jailed activist Sharjeel Imam on Thursday told a Delhi court that Umar Khalid never mentored him ahead of the 2020 northeast Delhi riots and described the prosecution’s claim that Imam was Khalid’s “disciple” as “absurd”.

The submissions were made before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai during arguments on framing of charges against Imam in the alleged conspiracy case related to the February 2020 riots.

Advocates Ahmad Ibrahim and Talib Mustafa, appearing for Imam, argued that despite Imam and Khalid having studied at the same university — Jawaharlal Nehru University — there was neither direct nor indirect communication between the two.

“The allegations find no support from the material relied upon by the prosecution. The applicant never spoke to Umar Khalid. It is highly improbable and rather unbelievable that a person allegedly mentored by Khalid had no calls or messages with him,” Mustafa submitted.

The defence said both Imam and Khalid were members of two WhatsApp groups — Muslim Students of JNU (MSJ) and CAB Team — only because they were students of the same institution, not due to any conspiratorial relationship.

Refuting allegations that Imam hatched a criminal conspiracy to organise “chakka jams” that later escalated into riots, the defence said there was no evidence to show that Imam intended to incite violence.

“In none of the material relied upon by the prosecution — including speeches, pamphlets, chats or Facebook posts — is there anything that even remotely suggests that the applicant had any intention to incite violence,” the counsel argued.

The defence further accused the prosecution of attempting to portray Imam as a religious extremist by conflating discussions on issues affecting a particular community.

“Mere academic criticism of events perceived to be against a community does not make a person communal, much less an extremist,” the counsel said.

Responding to claims that pamphlets were distributed at a Jamia Millia Islamia protest to incite communal sentiments against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Imam’s counsel said the pamphlets only highlighted the allegedly discriminatory nature of the law and its possible consequences if implemented along with the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

“There is nothing communal in the alleged pamphlet,” the counsel submitted, concluding the defence arguments.

The case relates to the February 2020 violence in northeast Delhi, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured during protests against the CAA and NRC.

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The Delhi Police has alleged that Imam played a key role in mobilising protesters, organising road blockades, administering WhatsApp groups for coordination, participating in conspiratorial meetings, and helping establish the Shaheen Bagh protest site. Police have claimed that his role was preparatory and ideological, and that physical presence at the scene of violence was not necessary to establish conspiracy.