Sedition Accused Sharjeel Imam Admits Viral Video Genuine, Claims 'Cut Off Assam' Remark Taken Out Of Context: Sources

In what can lead to more trouble for sedition accused Sharjeel Imam, sources say that the JNU scholar has reportedly admitted that the viral video was genuine. He has confessed that the video was not doctored. However, Imam claims that his ‘cut off Assam’ remark was taken out of context. Imam is in the custody of Delhi Police’s crime branch. Imam, who was on run for four days, was arrested from Bihar’s Jehanabad after a mega hunt that spread across five states. The former IIT-Bombay alumnus Imam hit the national headlines after BJP leader Sambit Patra tweeted a clip in which Sharjeel Imam was heard making provocative statement against the Indian security forces.

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Former JNUSU president and Left leader Kanhaiya Kumar also lent a tacit support to Imam. “If someone gives an instigating speech then FIR can be registered against him under various sections...But if sedition laws are misused then it is not right for the unity and security of our country,” Kumar was quoted as saying.

Arrest After Hunt

On Wednesday, a Delhi court sent JNU student Sharjeel Imam, arrested on sedition charges, to a five-day custody of Delhi Police Crime Branch. Imam was arrested on Tuesday for making allegedly inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. He reached Delhi on Wednesday and was produced in the Patiala House court. Some lawyers raised slogans against him and made posters calling him a 'traitor', demanding that he be hanged.

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Heavy security was deployed outside the courts premises with about 20 police personnel including the CRPF officials.

One of the lawyers said, "We are here to protest against those who talk about breaking the country. All the lawyers are united against such traitors. He does not deserve to be outside jail. Strict action should be taken against him."

What Was Controversy? 

Pursuing research at the Centre for Historical Studies in JNU, Sharjeel Imam allegedly made the controversial remark during a protest against the citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens. "If we have 5 lakh organised people then we can permanently cut north-east from India or at least for one month. Disrupt the root so that they cannot even remove it for a month. It is our responsibility to isolate Assam from India, then only they will listen to us," Shaheen Bagh Coordination committee chief Sharjeel Imam could be heard saying in the video that was tweeted by BJP’ national spokesperson Sambit Patra. “We may come to know that in 6-8 months all Bengalis have been killed - Hindu or Muslim. If we want to help Assam, then we will have to stop the way to Assam for the Indian Army and other supplies," Imam had said in the viral clip.