Sambhal violence: HC grants bailto president of Mughal-era mosque
2
Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court has granted bail to the president of Sambhal Jama Masjid,
Zafar Ali
, who was arrested after the violence, which took place during the survey of the Mughal-era mosque in November last year.
Zafar Ali, who is also a lawyer, was arrested in March 2025 after violent protests in November 2024 linked to a controversial mosque survey that resulted in four deaths. He was accused of being involved in the violence during the survey at Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal.
The single bench of Justice Sameer Jain passed the above order on Thursday.
An FIR was lodged in this connection at Kotwali Sambahl against Samajwadi Party (SP) member of Parliament (MP) from Sambhal Zia ur Rahman Barq and Sambhal's SP MLA Iqbal Mahmood's son Sohail Iqbal.
Later, the HC stayed the arrest of Barq but refused to quash the FIR against him.
During the course of hearing, it was argued on behalf of the applicant that the mosque's head Zafar Ali's name was not included in the first information report (FIR) lodged in this connection. However, the police arrested Zafar Ali during the investigation on March 23, 2025, on the charges of inciting violence during the survey. Zafar Ali is lodged in Moradabad jail.
This Sambhal mosque gained attention when unrest occurred in the district on Nov 24, 2024, following a survey of this Mughal-era mosque by a team led by an advocate commissioner under local court orders. The violence, where protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with security personnel, resulted in the deaths of four persons. The protesters torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.
Later, the UP govt constituted a three-member judicial commission, comprising retired Allahabad HC judge Devendra Kumar Arora, retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain to inquire into the incident.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Pune: Police say will probe source of drugs, accused lawyer claims bid to frame
The seven accused arrested over alleged drug seizure from an apartment in Pune, where they were allegedly partying, were remanded in police custody till July 29. Dr Pranjal Khewalkar, husband of a prominent NCP (SP) leader Rohini Khadse and son-in law of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse, was among the seven accused remanded by the court of judicial magistrate (first class) N S Bari. Police told the court that they want to investigate the source of the contraband seized and added the two of the accused had prior criminal records. Khewalkar's lawyer Vijaysinh Thombre raised doubts that police may have planted the contraband seized in this case for 'political' reasons. According to the police, they raided apartment number 102 of the Staybird Azure Suite building in Kharadi around 3.20 am. Police sources said that Khewalkar had booked the apartment days in his name. During the raid, police 2.7 grams of substance suspected to be cocaine, 70 grams of substances suspected to be marijuana. Police said Dr Khewalkar was found at the spot along with cigarette trader Nikhil Jethanand Poptani (35) of DSK Sundarban, who was booked in an online cricket betting racket case registered at Kondhwa police station in May 2023. Construction businessman Shripad Mohan Yadav (27) of Akurdi, was earlier booked in three criminal cases of gambling, cheating and allegedly causing hurt to a government servant on duty, was also among the accused who were present at the spot. Four others including a hardware businessman Sameer Fakir Mohammed Sayyed (41) of NIBM Road, a private company employee Sachin Sonaji Bhombe (42) of Wagholi, and two women Isha Devjyot Singh (22) of Aundh and Prachi Gopal Sharma (23) from Mahalunge, who were present at the spot, police said. All seven were arrested under sections of the NDPS) Act and Cigaretts and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) at the Kharadi police station. Seeking the police custody of the accused for seven days, Assistant public prosecutor Priyanka Vengurlekar argued that 2.7 grams of cocaine, which is an 'intermediate quatity' of drugs, was seized from the accused. Investigation is being done to know from where the contraband was purchased, she said. Police said a probe was on to know the main accused in this case and investigate whether any accused have links with any inter-state drug smuggling racket. Police also told the court they want to investigate the accused on why three rooms in 'Staybird' were booked from July 25 to July 28. Police said interrogation of the accused was required for searching three persons who are known to have visited the hotel premises. Police are also probing the role of two women arrested in this case. Meanwhile, during the argument prosecution lawyer Vengurlekar called it a case of 'rave party', to which defence lawyers told the court that it cannot be termed so. Defence lawyer Thombre argued that drugs were neither consumed by Khewalkar nor recovered from his possession, so the charges against him under NDPS Act are false and made with political purposes. During his arguments, Thombre claimed that police may have planted the drugs to frame Khewalkar. Lawyers representing other accused argued their police custody was not essential. Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007. Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Pune ‘drug party' raid: CM Fadnavis' first reaction as ex-minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law among 7 held
In first comments after former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law was arrested after Pune Police busted a rave party on Sunday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that although it appears that a crime was committed, he will only be able to talk more about it after he receives a proper briefing. According to a PTI report, police arrested seven persons after busting a "drug party" following a raid at an apartment in Pune early on Sunday and seized narcotics, hookah set ups and liquor, officials said. Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, was among those arrested, they said. Rohini Khadse is state president of the women's wing of the opposition NCP (SP). Reacting to the arrest, CM Fadnavis said, 'Even I saw it only in the media. I've been attending programmes since morning, so I haven't received an actual briefing on it yet. Based on what is being shown in the media, the police have busted a rave party, and some people have been found there. Drugs were reportedly found.' 'Once I receive a proper briefing, I will be able to comment on it. Prima facie, it appears that a crime has taken place at that location,' the CM was quoted by ANI as saying. The police's Crime Branch carried out the raid at the studio apartment located in the upscale Kharadi area of Maharashtra's Pune city based on a tip-off about a rave party, an official told PTI. The raid was conducted around 3.30 am on Sunday and a 'drug party' was busted at the studio apartment, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingle said at a press conference in Pune. During the raid and subsequent search, police seized 2.7 grams of cocaine-like substance, 70 gm of a ganja-like substance, a hookah pot, various hookah flavours, and liquor, and beer bottles, Pingle said. "We have arrested seven individuals, identified as Pranjal Khewalkar, Nikhil Poptani, Sameer Sayyad, Shripad Yadav, Sachin Bhombe, Isha Singh and Prachi Sharma, under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act," he said. All the accused were sent for medical examination and their reports are awaited, the official said. Reacting to the raid, Eknath Khadse said it should be probed if there was a political motive behind the police action. Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader Sushma Andhare said the raid is a message for those speaking against the government. (With inputs from agencies)
New Indian Express
7 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Cholas practised democracy; Chola emperors' names synonymous with India's identity, pride: PM Modi in TN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the names of Chola emperors Raja Raja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola-I are synonymous with India's identity and pride. Announcing that grand statues would be built for them in Tamil Nadu, he stressed that they will be "modern pillars of our historic awakening." Addressing an event at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, to honour the iconic Chola king Rajendra Chola-I, PM Modi said the Chola-era 'Kudavolai system' of democracy predated UK's Magna Carta. The system followed during the Chola era was over a 1,000 years ago. The event marks the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola which is celebrated as the 'Aadi Thiruvathirai' (the birth star of the king is Thiruvathirai in the Tamil month of Aadi) festival. The prime minister also hailed Operation Sindoor and said that it showed the world the way India would respond if its sovereignty was attacked and that the cross-border military offensive has created a new self-confidence across the country. Operation Sindoor also proved that for enemies and terrorists targeting India, there is no safe haven, Modi said Regarding Operation Sindoor, the PM said, "the world saw how India responds if someone attacks its security and sovereignty." "Operation Sindoor proved that for enemies of India, for terrorists, there is no safe haven. When I came here from the helipad, the 3-4 km distance suddenly became a roadshow, and everyone was praising Op Sindoor," he said. "Operation sindoor has created a new awakening, a new self-confidence across the country. The world has to realise India's strength," the PM asserted.
