The Bombay High Court granted anticipatory bail to a student who allegedly raised slogans in support of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam last year.

A case was filed against 22-year-old Urvashi Chudawala more than a year ago for allegedly raising slogans in support of Sharjeel Imam at an LGBTQ rally held in Mumbai.

Sharjeel Imam, who was accused of making inflammatory speeches during the protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), was arrested last year from Bihar.

Urvashi Chudawala, a student of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), was charged under Sections 124A (sedition) and 153B (disharmony amongst religions) of the Indian Penal Code by the Mumbai Police.

According to the FIR, the slogan — “Sharjeel tere sapno ko, hum manzil tak pahuchaenge [Sharjeel, we will fulfil your dreams]” — was raised during the rally. Apprehending arrest by the police, Chudawala had filed an anticipatory bail plea before the Bombay High Court.

The High Court had earlier granted Urvashi Chudawala interim anticipatory bail after it was informed by the Mumbai Police that only forensic reports were awaited in the investigation.

Chudawala’s counsel Advocate Vijay Hiremath claimed that the case was based on a video that was already in the custody of the police. “Thus, there is no case for custodial interrogation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Additional Public Prosecutor Anamika Singh informed the court that “the investigation has reached an advanced stage and only forensic reports are awaited”.

While hearing the case, the court concluded that Chudawala’s custodial interrogation was not warranted.

Earlier, a Mumbai sessions court had granted similar relief to another TISS student, Ambadi B, who was also accused of raising slogans in support of Imam.