Special Judge grants AMU student Sharjeel Usmani bail in view of bail granted to co-accused, good academic record

Sharjeel Usmani, a student of Aligarh Muslim University charged with involvement in the violence that took place during anti-CAA protests last year, has been granted bail by a Special Judge on August 24..Taking note of bail having been granted to others accused of similar offences, and Usmani's academic record, as well as the period of incarceration already undergone, Special Judge Narendra Singh has granted him bail..The order states, ."Keeping the accused further in jail will definitely serve no purpose at all. Therefore, in consideration of the undergone period in jail by the accused and his academic records, inter alia, the case is fit and proper to grant bail to the accused."Judge Narendra Singh, Aligarh.Usmani's counsel impressed upon the Court of Usmani's stellar academic record and highlighted that he had several research papers to his credit. It was also asserted that he had no criminal antecedents and that he was not even present on the day of the violence..The Court found merit in these submissions, observing, "The academic records of the accused manifests that he has been a bright student. He has written many articles which are also available on records.".In consideration of this, as well as the bail already granted to the others accused along with him for allegedly instigating violence, Usmani was enlarged on bail. Additionally, Usmani was directed to pay an amount of Rs. 50,000 as a bail bond..Sharjeel Usmani was arrested on December 15, 2019, for his purported involvement in the violence that broke out at the Aligarh Muslim University as a fallout of the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act..Usmani has been accused of spreading hatred between communities, rioting, disobedience to the orders of a public servant, and assaulting a public servant. (Sections 153A, 147, 188, 35 of the Indian Penal Code).Read the Order here: