Supreme Court Divided on Tahir Hussain's Bail Plea

New Delhi- The Supreme Court gave a split decision on former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain's request for interim bail to campaign in the Delhi Assembly elections. While Justice Pankaj Mithal rejected the petition, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah supported granting interim bail, considering Hussain's four-year imprisonment related to the 2020 Delhi riots. The case will now be referred to Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna for assignment to another bench.

During the proceedings, Justice Amanullah noted that Hussain's extended incarceration could warrant regular bail consideration. "Suppose we are satisfied on merit that a ground is made for considering regular bail, why should we not grant him? We can't shut our eyes to that," he remarked during the hearing. The court's previous session had notably featured Justice Mithal's observation that "It is easy to win elections sitting in jail. All such persons should be barred from contesting elections."

Hussain, who is now an AIMIM candidate from Mustafabad constituency, had earlier secured limited parole from the Delhi High Court solely for filing nomination papers. The High Court's strict conditions prohibit him from using phones or internet, interacting with anyone except nomination officials, or speaking to media during this period. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing Delhi Police, had opposed the interim bail request, arguing that Hussain could file nominations from custody and might influence witnesses if released.