The Delhi Police on Wednesday (December 10, 2025) told the Supreme Court that the speeches delivered by the accused had instigated “choking of essential supplies” in the national capital and amounted to a “clear terrorist act”, as the top court reserved its judgment on the bail pleas of activists Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and five others.
Additional Solicitor-General S.V. Raju, appearing for the police, argued before a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria that the calls for “chakka jams” were not innocuous political slogans but directives intended to disrupt essential services. Such disruption, he submitted, threatened the nation’s “economic security” and constituted a “terrorist act” under Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
“The speeches show what was planned. There were conspiratorial meetings where it was decided that a chakka jam would take place… this threatens the economic security of the country,” Mr. Raju said.
However, referring to the defence’s submissions, Justice Kumar observed that the evidence cited by the prosecution appeared to attract Section 13 of the UAPA, which penalises unlawful activities, rather than a terrorist act. “How do you link it (the speeches) to the actual violence?” he asked.
