human rights defender

Sharjeel Imam

© Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

HRD's year of birth

1988

HRD's Gender

Man

Type of HRD

  • Academic
  • Social and community leader

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Civil and political rights
  • Minorities’ rights

HRD's geographical origin

Semi urban

Current Status

In prison (pre-trial)

HRD's bio and work

Sharjeel Imam is an Indian student activist, writer, and researcher who has been incarcerated since January 2020. A graduate of IIT Bombay, he was pursuing his PhD in modern history at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) when he became a prominent figure in the anti-CAA protests. He was arrested for speeches delivered at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Millia Islamia, and was subsequently arrayed in the Delhi riots "larger conspiracy" case.

Detained since

Jan 28, 2020

Charge(s)

  • Anti-government propaganda
  • Creating disturbances
  • Damage to public property
  • Other
  • Subversion
  • Terrorism

Sentence

Sharjeel Imam faces multiple FIRs across different states (Delhi, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh). In the primary conspiracy case (FIR 59/2020), his charges include:

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA): Section 13: Unlawful activities. Section 16: Terrorist acts. Section 17: Funding for terrorist acts. Section 18: Conspiracy. Indian Penal Code (IPC): Section 124A: Sedition. Section 153A: Promoting enmity between different religious groups. Section 153B: Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration. Section 505(2): Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes. Section 120B: Criminal conspiracy. Section 302: Murder. Section 307: Attempt to murder. Sections 147, 148, 149, 186, 353: Rioting, obstructing public servants, and assault. Arms Act, 1959: Sections 25 & 27: Possession/use of unlicensed arms. Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984: Sections 3 & 4: Damage to public property.

Latitude: 28.61683730710137

Longitude: 77.10073159742566

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Southern Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

New Delhi

Location of detention - Facility

Tihar Jail, New Delhi

Recent case update / evolution

5 January 2026, The Supreme Court dismissed the bail application. 4 July 2026, Delhi Trail Court dismissed the bail application.

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