Jailed activist and former JNU student leader Sharjeel Imam, charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the alleged 2020 Delhi riots “larger conspiracy case”, has withdrawn his interim bail plea before a Delhi court that sought permission to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
The plea, filed before Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts, was withdrawn after Imam’s counsel noted that the Supreme Court would be the appropriate forum to seek such relief, since his regular bail plea is already pending there.
Imam had requested interim bail from October 15 to 29 to campaign as an Independent candidate from the Bahadurganj constituency in Bihar’s Kishanganj district.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing bail pleas filed by Imam and other student activists, Umar Khalid, Meeran Haider, and Gulfisha Fatima, all of whom have been imprisoned for over five years under the Delhi riots conspiracy case. The court has also sought a response from the Delhi Police.
Earlier, on September 2, the Delhi High Court rejected the bail applications of several accused in the case, observing that their alleged “inflammatory and provocative speeches” made around February 24, 2020, during then US President Donald Trump’s India visit, appeared to form part of a planned conspiracy aimed at triggering violence to attract global attention.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has scheduled the Bihar Assembly polls in two phases, November 6 and 11, with vote counting on November 14. The Bahadurganj seat, from where Imam intended to contest, will go to polls in the second phase on November 11.
