Several BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev Agrawal, surrendered to a special court in connection with the Muzaffarnagar riots case on Tuesday.
Their appearance followed the issuance of non-bailable warrants due to their failure to attend previous court sessions.
Special Judge Devendra Faujdar, presiding over the MP-MLA court, recalled the warrants issued on October 21 and scheduled the framing of charges for November 16. However, Yati Narsinghanand, the controversial head priest of the Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad, did not appear, resulting in another non-bailable warrant against him.
The court has instructed all accused to be present at the next hearing.
According to Prosecution Officer Niraj Singh, the case involves a total of twenty individuals, including notable figures such as former Union minister Sanjeev Balyan, VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi, former Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Rana, former BJP MP Bhartendu Singh, and former BJP MLAs Umesh Malik and Ashok Kansal. All are facing charges related to the riots.
The accused are charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty), Section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), and Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, or other factors).
The prosecution alleges that the accused participated in a panchayat meeting in Naglamador village in August 2013, where they incited violence and disregarded prohibitory orders through their speeches. The riots resulted in the tragic loss of more than 60 lives and displaced over 40,000 individuals in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts.
As the case unfolds, the upcoming court proceedings will be closely watched, given the significant implications for those involved and the historical context of the events in question.
