Judge who freed Sharjeel Imam recuses from 2019 Jamia violence case

New Delhi: Additional Sessions Judge Arul Varma, who discharged student activists Sharjeel Imam and Asif Iqbal Tanha, withdrew himself from a Jamia Nagar violence case in 2019, PTI reported.

Sharjeel Imam and Asif Iqbal Tanha, and nine others were accused in the 2019 Jamia Nagar violence case, and all of them were released by Judge Varma. The case he recused also accuses Iqbal Tanha.

In a Friday order by the judge, he said, "Due to personal reasons, the undersigned hereby recuses from hearing the matter. Accordingly, let the present matter be put up before the principal district and sessions judge, southeast district, Saket court, for February 13 at 12 pm with a request to transfer the matter.

Discharging eleven accused in the mentioned case last Saturday, Judge Varma noted that legal proceedings were initiated in a "perfunctory and cavalier fashion" and "allowing them to undergo the rigmarole of a long-drawn trial does not augur well for the criminal justice system of the country".

Delhi Police had registered the case on the violence that erupted after a clash between the police and people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December 2019.

Those accused in the present case include Meeran Haider, Ashu Khan, Qasim Usmani, Mohammad Hassan, Mohd Jamal, Mohd Sahil Muddassir, Faheem Hasmee, Sameer Ahmad, Mohd Umar, Mohd Adil, Roohul Ameer, Chandan Kumar, and Saqib Khan.

The FIR charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty).