Giving an “unpalatable” speech cannot by itself attract the rigours of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the accused in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case told the Supreme Court on December 9, 2025, as they concluded arguments on their bail pleas.

Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Sharjeel Imam, apprised a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria that the prosecution’s case rests almost entirely on speeches delivered by Mr. Imam, which, he contended, cannot ipso facto be construed as a “terrorist act” under Section 15 of the UAPA.

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