A local court on Thursday rejected the interim bail plea of Zafar Ali, the president of Shahi Jama Masjid, and scheduled his regular bail hearing for April 2.
The decision was made by Additional District Judge II, Nirbhay Narayan Rai, who dismissed Ali’s request for interim bail after hearing arguments from both his defense and the prosecution.
Arguments In Court
During the hearing, Ali’s lawyer argued for interim bail, but the prosecution opposed the request, citing the serious charges against him. These include assembling a mob, inciting violence, damaging public property, and fabricating evidence. Based on these arguments, the court decided not to grant Ali interim bail and set the next hearing for his regular bail plea on April 2, according to additional district government counsel Hariom Prakash Saini.
Arrest & Charges
Zafar Ali was arrested on March 23 after being questioned in connection with the violence that erupted during a protest on November 24, 2022. The protest was against a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid. On the same day, a court in Chandausi rejected Ali’s bail plea and sent him to two days of judicial custody at Moradabad Jail.
A case was registered against Ali under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges related to rioting, obstructing public servants, assaulting public servants, promoting enmity between different groups, and fabricating false evidence. Ali was also charged under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Charges Denial
Ali has denied all the charges and maintains that he has been framed. His elder brother, Tahir Ali, alleged that the police “deliberately” sent his brother to jail before a judicial panel could record his testimony. The Uttar Pradesh government had set up this panel to investigate the violence, which resulted in the deaths of four people and left several others injured during protests against the survey.
Controversy Surrounding Mosque
The Mughal-era mosque has been at the center of a significant dispute. A petition has claimed that the site may have once been the location of an ancient Hindu temple. The survey that sparked the November 24 violence was conducted as part of the ongoing controversy.
As the case progresses, Ali’s legal team will continue to challenge the charges, and the court will hear his regular bail plea next week.
The outcome of this case remains a focal point in the ongoing debate surrounding the mosque and the events that unfolded during the protests.
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