A graduate in computer science from IIT-Mumbai, Imam had moved to Delhi to pursue research at the Centre for Historical Studies at the JNU. (Photo: Facebook)

Trouble seems to be mounting for Sharjeel Imam. As the Aligarh Police and Delhi Police hunt for Imam, two more cases were filed against the JNU student. Police of six states -- Bihar, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Manipur -- have booked Sharjeel under the relevant sections of the IPC. He is also facing the charge of sedition. The police in Bihar -- his native state -- have already conducted raids at his ancestral home on Sunday.

Arunachal, Manipur police file FIR

Police in two northeastern states--Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh--lodged FIRs against the JNU scholar, over his speech in which he threatened to "cut off" Assam and the northeast from the rest of the country.

The two-state polices registered FIRs against Imam under IPC sections relating to waging war against the nation and sedition. If convicted, he could be imprisoned for life.

Imam summoned by JNU proctor

Meanwhile, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) chief proctor has summoned research scholar Sharjeel Imam to appear before him and explain his position on the alleged provocative speeches made by him.

Imam has been asked to appear before the Proctorial Committee by February 3.

"A security report dated January 27 against Sharjeel Imam, has been received in the Chief Proctor's office from the Office of Chief Security Officer. The report has cited media reports saying Imam made provocative speeches at Aligarh Muslim University threatening the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country upheld by the constitution," JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar said.

In response to the sedition charges against Imam, JNU students held a protest in university premises. Asking to revoke all cases against him, several student bodies held a march in the campus.

Raids in Delhi, Mumbai, Patna

On Monday, police conducted raids in Delhi, Mumbai and Patna to find Sharjeel Imam, one of the initial organisers of the Shaheen Bagh protest. Five teams of the Crime Branch have been deployed to hunt for Imam.

The multi-city hunt comes a day after the raid on Imam's ancestral home in Bihar, hunting for him in sedition cases lodged across several states for his alleged "inflammatory" speeches, but he eluded the dragnet.

Jehanabad Superintendent of Police Manish Kumar said police swooped on Imam's ancestral house in Kako police station area on Sunday night after "help was sought by central agencies".

Imam was not to be found but two of his relatives and their driver were detained for interrogation and let off thereafter.

BJP, AAP in a war of words

The BJP targeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the remarks made by Sharjeel Imam on Monday.

At a rally in Rithala, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said the Delhi Police has booked Imam on sedition charge for his comment of "trying to cut the chicken's neck" and break the northeast from the rest of the country.

"I want to ask Kejriwal whether he is in favour of apprehending Sharjeel Imam or not? Whether you are with the people of Shaheen Bagh or not, please tell the people of Delhi," Shah said.

Arvind Kejriwal hit back and asked Amit Shah why anti-CAA activist Sharjeel Imam has not been arrested till now despite him making a very serious statement.

"Sharjeel talked about separating Assam from the country. It is very serious. You are the country's home minister. This statement of yours depicts petty politics. It is your duty to immediately arrest him. He made the statement two days back, why are you not arresting him? What is the compulsion or do you want to do more dirty politics on the matter," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Mother comes to defense

Amid controversy over recent remarks, Sharjeel Imam's mother has come to her son's defense while accusing the police of threatening and harassing the family.

In a statement addressed to media, Sharjeel Imam's mother Afshan Rahim alleged that her son was quoted out of context as she added that that the police and state authorities were harassing and threatening the family.

Who is Sharjeel Imam

A graduate in computer science from IIT-Mumbai, Imam had moved to Delhi to pursue research at the Centre for Historical Studies at the JNU.

He was slapped with a sedition case after his alleged speeches went viral on social media where he was heard speaking about "cutting off" Assam and the northeast from India.

The cases were lodged after Imam's purported video emerged where he spoke about cutting off the northeast from India if "five lakh people stand organised".