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“In my five years at Jawaharlal Nehru University, I never spoke to Umar Khalid. I do not know what coordination the police are referring to,” Imam said

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Activist Sharjeel Imam on Thursday told a Delhi court that he has no connection with fellow accused Umar Khalid, rejecting police claims that Khalid is his Guru or mentor in the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 North East Delhi riots.

Imam made the statement before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai at Karkardooma Courts, where proceedings on the framing of charges in the case are ongoing.

“In my five years at Jawaharlal Nehru University, I never spoke to Umar Khalid. I do not know what coordination the police are referring to,” Imam said, according to court filings.

Police allege that Khalid and others planned the February 2020 communal violence, which erupted during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), as part of a wider plot to target the government. The clashes left 53 people dead, mostly Muslims, and injured hundreds.

The accused, including Imam and Khalid, face charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the Arms Act, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Imam’s lawyer argued that no agreement or coordination with Khalid could be established. “There is only one meeting where Umar and I were present together, and even the witness statement confirms that no discussion of violence took place,” the lawyer said in court.

The Supreme Court last Monday denied bail to both Imam and Khalid, citing their roles as alleged “masterminds” and stating that the evidence presented made out a prima facie case under anti-terror laws. Five other accused – Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed, and Muhammad Saleem Khan – were granted bail.

The court noted that Imam and Khalid could apply for bail after all protected witnesses have been examined or after one year, whichever comes first.