Sharjeel Imam, currently incarcerated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case, has approached a Delhi court seeking interim bail to participate in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
In his application, Imam requests a 14-day release from October 15 to October 29, 2025, to file his nomination and campaign as an independent candidate from the Bahadurpur constituency
The Election Commission of India has scheduled the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections for November 6 and 11, 2025, with the counting of votes set for November 14.
Imam’s legal team argues that his participation in the electoral process is a fundamental democratic right. However, his previous bail pleas have been rejected by both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court, which have cited the severity of the charges against him.
The outcome of Imam’s interim bail application is awaited, and it may set a precedent for the involvement of incarcerated individuals in electoral politics.
