New Delhi: In the run-up to the Bihar polls, jailed activist Sharjeel Imam has put in an interim bail application in Delhi’s Karkardooma district courts so he can “file his nomination and campaign” as an independent candidate from Bahadurganj constituency in Bihar.
Imam, accused in the North-East Delhi riots’ larger conspiracy case, has sought his release for a period of 14 days from 15 to 29 October. The duration for filing nomination papers for the Bihar elections is between 13 and 20 October. Voting is scheduled in 2 phases, 6 and 11 November.
The charges against Sharjeel Imam are yet to be framed as he has been booked in a series of cases relating to the violence over Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that took place in Delhi in 2020 with charges of UAPA involved. His regular bail application was denied by the Delhi High Court on 2 September. His appeal against the Delhi HC order is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
In his application, a copy of which is with ThePrint, he has cited remaining in continuous judicial custody since he was arrested on 25 August 2020. For the last 5 years and 2 months, he said, he has not been out on bail, even temporarily.
Sharjeel Imam, a resident of Kako, Jehanabad in Bihar says in his bail application that he intends to contest as an independent candidate and “is not associated with any political party. There is no one to take care of and make arrangements for nomination and campaign for the elections, except (my) younger brother, who is also currently looking after (our) ailing mother and providing for (the) family.”
Citing precedents of interim bail in cases of Arvind Kejriwal, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh, the bail application also says that since he does not belong to the ruling party and does not hold any public office, he is not in a position to influence any person or tamper with official files.
The matter is before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma courts.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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