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Politics
Rajasthan High Court Holds Late Night Session, Grants Stay on Arrest of Bikaner Councilor Maqsud Ahmad
✍️ Amar Ujala · Jodhpur
🗓 21 Sep 2026, 08:00 AM
👁 9
The Rajasthan High Court convened at 10 pm for the first time to issue a stay on the arrest of Congress councilor and former UIT chief Maqsud Ahmad ahead of Bikaner's mayoral polls on September 21.
The Rajasthan High Court broke precedent on Tuesday by opening its doors at 10 pm, a move taken to address a petition filed by Congress councilor Maqsud Ahmad. Ahmad, who also served as the former president of the Urban Improvement Trust (UIT), had been taken into custody in connection with a pending case, prompting his legal team to seek urgent relief.
The court granted a stay on his arrest, allowing Ahmad to remain free pending further hearings. The decision came just weeks before the scheduled Bikaner municipal corporation elections, where the mayoral race is set for September 21. Authorities had indicated that the councilor's detention could affect the electoral process and the representation of his constituency.
Legal experts noted that the high court's late‑night session underscores the sensitivity of the matter, given the proximity of the elections and the political implications for the Congress party in Rajasthan. The stay does not equate to an acquittal; the case will continue to be examined in regular court proceedings.
The high court's decision has been welcomed by local party leaders, who view it as a necessary step to ensure a level playing field for candidates ahead of the crucial municipal polls.
The court granted a stay on his arrest, allowing Ahmad to remain free pending further hearings. The decision came just weeks before the scheduled Bikaner municipal corporation elections, where the mayoral race is set for September 21. Authorities had indicated that the councilor's detention could affect the electoral process and the representation of his constituency.
Legal experts noted that the high court's late‑night session underscores the sensitivity of the matter, given the proximity of the elections and the political implications for the Congress party in Rajasthan. The stay does not equate to an acquittal; the case will continue to be examined in regular court proceedings.
The high court's decision has been welcomed by local party leaders, who view it as a necessary step to ensure a level playing field for candidates ahead of the crucial municipal polls.