Jailed activist Sharjeel Imam to contest Bihar election from Bahadurganj, files interim bail plea

Imam, who is in jail for over five years, will contest the Bihar elections from Bahadurganj constituency in Kishanganj district as an independent candidate.

Updated on: Oct 13, 2025, 22:16:07 IST

Edited by Majid Alam

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Student activist Sharjeel Imam, who is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail over Delhi riots case, has moved a Delhi Court seeking interim bail to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.

Sharjeel Imam (Amal KS/ Hindustan Times)

Imam, who is in jail for over five years, will contest the Bihar elections from Bahadurganj constituency in Kishanganj district as an independent candidate.

Bihar assembly elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, while the results will be declared on November 14.

He has filed the interim bail application before Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Courts, who has been hearing the Delhi riots conspiracy case, according to Bar and Bench.

Also Read: Sharjeel Imam moves SC for bail in Delhi riots conspiracy case

“That since the applicant is a political prisoner and a student activist, he is willing to contest elections from his home state, Bihar,” the plea said, according to PTI.

The Bahadurganj seat is currently represented by Mohammad Anzar Nayeemi, who was elected in 2020 on an AIMIM ticket, but switched to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Sharjeel Imam has sought bail from October 15 to October 29. Bahadurganj will go to polls on November 11.

“There is no one to take care of and make arrangements for his nomination and campaign for the elections, except his younger brother, who is also currently looking after his ailing mother and providing for his family,” the plea added.

Also Read: Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam denied bail by HC in Delhi riots ‘conspiracy’ case

Imam, an anti-CAA activist in jail since January 2020, is a native of Kako village in Jehanabad. He has spent over five years in pre-trial detention.

His petition is currently being heard before the Supreme Court, after the Delhi high court Three days after the Delhi High Court last month refused bail in the larger conspiracy case linked to the February 2020 Delhi riots. Imam's counsel has argued that his incarceration has been prolonged due to systemic delays in the trial for which he cannot be blamed.

The student activist's announcement comes months after Delhi riots accused Shifa-ur Rehman and Tahir Hussain had contested assembly elections in Delhi on AIMIM ticket.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Majid Alam
Majid Alam is a Chief Content Producer working at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi. He currently heads shifts at online desk and manages homepage apart from writing, editing and curating articles. With over six years of experience in journalism, Majid has navigated national, politics and international news. His work primarily focuses on the politics of the Hindi heartland, government policies, and South Asia. He also writes on US and Europe’s policies vis-à-vis India. Before joining Hindustan Times, Majid worked at ABP LIVE as the Chief Copy Editor and at News18, where he managed the World and Explainers sections. His articles have featured in Dialogue Earth, The Quint, BMJ, The Diplomat, and Outlook India. Majid has a keen interest in the use of data for storytelling. Majid holds a Masters in Convergent Journalism from Jamia Millia Islamia. He was awarded the Erasmus+ scholarship to study International Affairs at Sciences Po, Paris in 2020. He is also part of the OCEANS Network, an alumni network of Erasmus+ exchange scholars. He is currently serving as the National Representative (India) at the OCEANS Network. Apart from journalism, Majid has a flair for academic writing and loves to teach. He has published a book chapter: 'Bombay Cinema and Postmodernism' in the book: 'Handbook of Research on Social and Cultural Dynamics in Indian Cinema.' He was also part of the OCEANS Network delegation to Hanoi National University of Education in Vietnam in 2025. He has also given guest lecture in digital journalism at AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia.Read More

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