The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to Zafar Ali, the president of the Sambhal Jama Masjid committee, who was arrested in connection with the violence that erupted during a mosque survey in November last year.
Justice Sameer Jain passed the bail order on Thursday, offering relief to Ali, who is also a practicing advocate. He had been in judicial custody at Moradabad jail since his arrest on March 23.
The case stems from violent clashes that broke out on November 24, 2023, during a survey of the Jama Masjid in Sambhal, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. Although Zafar Ali’s name did not appear in the original FIR, he was later arrested during the investigation for allegedly inciting violence.
The FIR was lodged at the Kotwali police station in Sambhal and named several political figures, including Samajwadi Party MP Zia ur Rehman Barq and Sohail Iqbal, son of Sambhal’s SP MLA Iqbal Mahmood.
During the bail hearing, Ali’s counsel argued that his client had no role in the incident and that his name was not initially mentioned in the police complaint. The court, after considering the arguments and material on record, granted him bail.
