Sharjeel Imam Seeks Interim Bail to Contest Bihar Assembly Polls
Jailed activist moves Delhi court to participate in elections as an independent candidate from Bahadurganj.
New Delhi, Oct 14: Sharjeel Imam, an anti-CAA activist who has been behind bars for over five years, has approached a Delhi court seeking interim bail to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
Imam, currently held under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has requested 14 days of temporary release from October 15 to October 29, 2025 to file his nomination and campaign as an independent candidate from Bahadurganj, a constituency in Bihar’s Seemanchal region.
The election in Bihar is set to take place in phases between October 10 and November 16, 2025.
In his application filed before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai at Karkardooma Courts, Imam described himself as a “political prisoner and student activist” hailing from Bihar. He stressed that he is contesting independently, with no ties to any political party.
The plea also highlights that Imam has been in custody for over five years and two months without being granted any form of temporary bail. He pointed out personal challenges, including the responsibility falling solely on his younger brother to manage the family’s needs, take care of their ailing mother, and now assist with the election process.
Imam, an IIT graduate and former scholar, argued that his current circumstances deserve compassionate consideration by the court.
He is one of the accused in FIR No. 59 of 2020, registered by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell under UAPA and various IPC sections. The case relates to an alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots. Other accused in the case include well-known activists like Umar Khalid and Gulfisha Fathima. Their bail pleas have also been rejected by the Delhi High Court, and appeals are pending before the Supreme Court.
Several human rights organizations, opposition leaders, and families of the accused have maintained that the charges are politically motivated. They claim that the activists are being punished for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and that the prolonged detentions are aimed at silencing dissent.
Imam’s bail plea, if accepted, would allow him to participate in the democratic process despite being in judicial custody, marking a significant development in a case closely watched by civil rights observers.
