The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to nine individuals arrested in connection with the communal violence that erupted in Nagpur on March 17, 2024.
The unrest followed demonstrations demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb from Khultabad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke, presiding over the matter, held that further custodial interrogation of the accused was unwarranted at this stage of the investigation. “The custody of the accused is not required any further,” she stated.
A detailed, reasoned order is expected to be released in due course.
Argument For Bail
Advocate Mohammad Aadil Sheikh, representing one of the accused, submitted that the investigation in the matter had been substantially completed and that continued detention served no procedural necessity. The court concurred, granting bail to Iqbal Ansari, Ejaz Ansari, Absar Ansari, Izhar Ansari, Ashfaqulla Aminullah, Muzzamil Ansari, Mohammad Rahil, Mohammad Yasir, and Iftekar Ansari.
Background
The violence was sparked by reports alleging the desecration of a religious cloth, or chadar, inscribed with holy text, during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The demonstrations were part of a broader campaign demanding the demolition of Aurangzeb’s tomb, a site of historical and ideological contention in Khultabad.
Widespread stone pelting and incidents of arson ensued across several areas of Nagpur, severely straining local law enforcement. In total, 33 police personnel sustained injuries, including three officers of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank.
Law Enforcement Response
In the aftermath of the riots, Nagpur police launched a sweeping crackdown. Authorities arrested more than 123 individuals in connection with the violence, including 19 minors. The scale of arrests reflected the seriousness with which the police viewed the breach of public order.
Legal & Political Significance
The riots in Nagpur form part of a larger pattern of tensions centered around contested historical narratives and sites. The legal developments in this case, including the High Court’s decision to release some of the accused on bail, may influence the trajectory of future communal cases and their prosecutorial standards.
Further judicial proceedings are expected to shed light on the evidentiary basis of the prosecution’s case and the broader implications for communal harmony and legal accountability.
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