[16] The latter speech was 40 minutes long;[7] in a three-minute long viral video of that speech, Imam could be heard calling for Assam to be permanently "cut off" from the rest of India[17] by blocking the Siliguri Corridor also known as "Chicken's Neck",[16][7] which he claimed was a call for a "chakka jam" — a sit-in protest that involves roadblock and stopping vehicular movements, also deployed at the Shaheen Bagh protest site.

[14] Citing the Brandenburg versus Ohio ruling, former Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju came out in defence of Sharjeel, arguing for quashing of FIRs against him, saying that "he has not committed a crime", even though he disapproves of his speech.

[22] JNU Teachers' Association alleged that the sedition charge was invoked due to "other reasons" and that it reflects "politicisation" of the conduct of law enforcement agencies.

[25] Over 50 activists were booked under sedition charges by Mumbai Police for raising slogans in support of Sharjeel Imam at a Pride Solidarity gathering in February 2020.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana, after viewing the charge-sheet filed against Imam under UAPA, asked him to appear in court on 1 September 2020.

[34] In May 2024, Imam was granted bail in the case pertaining to his speeches made during the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act by the Delhi High Court.

However, he remains in jail in alleged connection with the larger conspiracy case involving Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) charges related to the 2020 Delhi riot.