After spending more than six years behind bars, Alemla Jamir, a senior leader linked to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), finally walked out on bail following relief from the Supreme Court of India. The top court said her prolonged incarceration, the progress of the trial, and the fact that she is a woman weighed heavily in her favour.
The order came in a terror funding case investigated by the National Investigation Agency under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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Background of the Case
Alemla Jamir was arrested in 2019 after she was intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi with ₹72 lakh in cash. The prosecution alleged that the money was meant to fund activities of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), commonly referred to as NSCN(IM).
The National Investigation Agency later took over the probe and charged her under multiple provisions of the UAPA, along with sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act. According to investigators, Jamir held a senior position in the organisation and played an active role in raising and channeling funds.
Her bail plea was earlier rejected by the Delhi High Court, which cited her alleged influence within the group and the risk of witness tampering.
Appearing for Jamir, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal argued that keeping her in custody for years without the trial concluding was unfair. He submitted that a significant number of prosecution witnesses had already been examined, reducing the risk of interference.
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On the other side, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Singh Bhati urged the court to consider Jamir’s profile. She pointed out that Jamir was not a peripheral figure and held a leadership position within NSCN(IM).
During the exchange, Justice M.M. Sundresh noted the human cost of continued detention, remarking that Jamir’s husband was absconding and that she should not be made to suffer endlessly.
Court’s Observations
The Bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh focused on three key aspects: the length of custody, the stage of the trial, and Jamir’s personal circumstances.
“The appellant has been in incarceration for over six years,” the Bench observed, adding that many witnesses had already been examined. The judges also took note of the fact that Jamir is a woman, a factor that the court said could not be ignored in the facts of the case.
The court made it clear that bail was being granted after weighing all circumstances together, rather than on any single factor.
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The Decision
Allowing Jamir’s appeal, the Supreme Court granted her regular bail. The Bench said, “Taking all of the above into consideration, we are inclined to grant bail.”
The order came while hearing Jamir’s Special Leave Petition challenging the Delhi High Court’s refusal to release her. With this decision, the apex court brought temporary relief to an accused who had remained in custody for over half a decade while the trial slowly progressed.
Case Title: Alemla Jamir v. National Investigation Agency
Case No.: Diary No. 33716/2025
Case Type: Criminal Appeal (Bail under UAPA)
Decision Date: January 2026
