The bail plea hearing for Zafar Ali, president of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, has been deferred to April 4, according to legal representatives involved in the case. The postponement was necessitated by the absence of the case diary, which is crucial for proceeding with the hearing.
Zafar Ali was taken into custody on March 23, following inquiries related to the violent protests that erupted during a court-mandated survey of the Mughal-era mosque on November 24 last year. The initial bail hearing was scheduled for March 27 but was postponed after the ADJ-II court, under Judge Nirbhay Narayan Rai in Chandausi, denied him interim bail and rescheduled the hearing for April 2.
During the rescheduled session, the defense sought interim bail for Ali, citing the non-availability of the case diary as a basis for their request. However, additional district government advocate Hariom Prakash Saini opposed the motion, referencing the previous rejection of interim bail. “The court accepted this argument and dismissed the interim bail application,” Saini stated. The court has now directed the prosecution to ensure the case diary is available by April 4.
Ali faces multiple charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including rioting, obstructing public servants, endangering life, promoting enmity between different groups, and fabricating false evidence. These charges are compounded by additional accusations under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Denying all allegations, Ali claims he was unjustly framed, a sentiment echoed by his elder brother, Tahir Ali, who criticized the police for their handling of the situation. Tahir alleged that the police had “deliberately” incarcerated his brother before he could testify before the judicial panel appointed by the Uttar Pradesh government. This panel was established to investigate the violence that led to the deaths of four individuals and injuries to several others during the protests.
