The Allahabad High Court has rejected the bail application of Tauqeer Raza Khan in connection with a violence case in Bareilly, ruling that his release poses a significant risk of further communal incitement and disruption of peace.
In an order issued on June 5, Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal denied the bail plea, citing Khan’s extensive history of involvement in similar criminal cases. The court designated Khan as the principal conspirator behind the unrest, making him legally liable for the actions of the mob.
Judicial Findings And Conspiracy Charges
According to the court, eyewitness testimonies and video evidence confirmed that Khan was the key figure who motivated a group of local youth to assemble at Islamia Inter College during a public meeting.
The court noted that during the march, participants raised highly provocative slogans calling for decapitation as punishment for insulting the prophet. Justice Deshwal observed that such slogans represent a direct challenge to the authority of the law, as well as the sovereignty and integrity of the country, by effectively calling for an armed rebellion. The ruling stated that this conduct is punishable under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and also violates the core principles of Islam.
The Outbreak Of Clashes In Bareilly
The charges stem from an incident on September 26, when police allege that Khan directed members of a specific community to gather at Islamia Inter College. Despite active prohibitory orders enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, a crowd numbering between 200 and 250 people gathered and began marching from Maulana Azad Inter College toward Shyamganj Chauraha.
The group, carrying boards and chanting aggressive slogans, ignored warnings and dispersal efforts by police officers on the scene. The situation escalated when the marchers grew aggressive and forced their way forward.
During the ensuing confrontation, members of the crowd pelted police officers with stones and brickbats, threw acid bottles, and discharged firearms. The violence resulted in injuries to two police officers and damage to law enforcement uniforms.
