New Delhi | October 14, 2025 — Student activist Sharjeel Imam, one of the key accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case, on Tuesday withdrew his interim bail plea filed before a Delhi court. Imam had sought temporary bail to contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, but said he will now approach the Supreme Court instead, where his regular bail application is already pending.
Advocate Ibraham Ahmad, representing Imam, informed Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts that the application was being withdrawn due to procedural reasons. The defence submitted that since Imam’s regular bail plea was already before the apex court, it was legally more appropriate for the interim bail request—meant specifically for election-related relief—to be moved there as well.
Imam’s Legal Position and Decision to Withdraw Plea
“Because the regular bail petition is already before the Supreme Court, it would be procedurally sound and efficient to seek interim bail from the same forum,” said Advocate Ahmad during the hearing.
The Delhi court then allowed Imam to withdraw his plea, paving the way for his legal team to file a fresh petition before the Supreme Court in the coming days.
Imam, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, had on Monday filed an application seeking 14 days of interim bail to enable him to file his nomination and campaign for the Bahdaruganj assembly constituency in Bihar’s Kishanganj district.
Imam’s Argument: “Political Prisoner” Seeking to Exercise Democratic Right
In his application filed earlier this week, Imam described himself as a “political prisoner and student activist”, asserting his democratic right to contest elections.
“…the applicant is an independent candidate contesting from the assembly constituency of Bahdaruganj. The election to the said constituency is to happen in the 2nd phase from the issuance of notification on October 13, 2025, till the date of poll on November 11, 2025,” the plea stated.
The petition also mentioned that as Imam was running independently, without any party backing or organisational support, there was no one else to handle his nomination filing and campaign arrangements. He stated that his younger brother, who also takes care of their ailing mother, was the only family member able to assist him.
Imam sought a two-week release, arguing that the deadline for filing nominations — October 20 — required him to personally make arrangements for his paperwork and campaign logistics in his home district.
Background: Imam’s Incarceration and the Delhi Riots Case
Sharjeel Imam, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student and prominent figure in the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests, has been incarcerated since 2020 under multiple serious charges.
He was booked under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches that police say contributed to the outbreak of communal violence in northeast Delhi in February 2020. The riots resulted in over 50 deaths and 500 injuries, and caused widespread property damage.
Imam is among several activists, including Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima, and others, who have been accused of hatching a larger conspiracy behind the riots. Prosecutors allege that the accused coordinated protests and incited violence under the guise of peaceful demonstrations against the CAA.
Imam has consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that his speeches were political in nature and protected under Article 19 (Freedom of Speech) of the Indian Constitution. His legal team has argued that the charges are politically motivated and amount to the criminalisation of dissent.
Pending Before Supreme Court
Imam’s regular bail plea is already pending before the Supreme Court of India, which is examining whether the material evidence presented by the prosecution establishes a prima facie case under the stringent UAPA provisions.
Given this, the Delhi trial court noted that it would be more appropriate for Imam’s interim bail—a temporary release for a specific purpose such as contesting elections—to be sought from the Supreme Court itself.
Legal experts point out that, under normal circumstances, an undertrial can seek interim bail for limited purposes, including academic exams, family emergencies, or political participation, provided that such requests are made to the appropriate court with jurisdiction over the pending matter.
The Political Context: Bihar Elections 2025
The Bihar assembly elections are being conducted in two phases between October 10 and November 16, 2025. The Bahdaruganj seat, from where Imam intends to contest, is part of the Seemanchal region, known for its high Muslim population and active participation in recent political debates over citizenship and minority rights.
While Imam’s candidacy has sparked conversations among student and activist circles, his legal situation remains uncertain. Unless the Supreme Court grants him interim bail in the coming week, he may be unable to file his nomination papers before the October 20 deadline.
Legal and Political Implications
Imam’s move highlights a rare intersection of law, politics, and activism. If granted permission to contest, he would become one of the few undertrial political prisoners in India’s recent history to run for office while facing UAPA charges.
The case also underlines ongoing debates about judicial delays, use of stringent laws in protest-related cases, and the rights of undertrials to participate in democratic processes.
Imam’s legal team has confirmed that a petition before the Supreme Court will be filed “at the earliest” to seek temporary relief in line with his constitutional rights.
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