Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has granted regular bail to nine accused involved in the March 17 Nagpur riots which involved mob violence, assault on police and damage to public property. The order was passed by Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke, who noted that the investigation was complete, chargesheet filed and hence prolonged custody was not required.
The bail applicants were arrested between March 17 and 20 this year, in connection with the violence that broke out following burning of an alleged ‘chadar with Quran verses’ with the effigy of Aurangzeb’s grave near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue, Gandhi Gate, Mahal. The situation escalated when a mob of 500–600 people allegedly attacked police with weapons, stones, and petrol bombs and injured over 30 police personnel, including five Deputy Commissioners of Police.
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26 June 2025
The accused released on bail are — Mohammad Iqbal Ismail Ansari, Mohd Absar Mohd Ismail Ansari, Mohd Izhar Mohd Ismail Ansari, Mohd Ejaz Mohd Ismail Ansari, Mohammad Rahil Zakir Khan, Mohammad Yasir Saqib Khan, Mohd Muzammil Ansari, Ashfaque Ullah Khan Aminullah Khan and Mohd Iftekhar Mohd Sabir. These accused face serious charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including rioting, assault, attempted murder, damage to public property, and unlawful assembly.
Additional charges include sections from the Criminal Law Amendment Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, and the Arms Act. According to the FIR filed by API Jitendra Gadge, one Faheem Khan had brought a crowd to the police station to report the effigy-burning. Soon after, WhatsApp messages were circulated via a group named “Sunni Youth Force,” allegedly created by Faheem Khan. These messages are believed to have incited the violent gathering.
Despite the gravity of the charges, the court found that most applicants were arrested based on CDR evidence, belated test identification parades and CCTV footage. The defence argued that no direct role was attributed to the accused and that they were arrested mostly on suspicion. In granting bail, the court imposed strict conditions: Each accused must furnish a PR bond of Rs 1 lakh with one solvent surety. They must report to the police station on the 1st and 15th of every month. Any repeat offence will lead to immediate cancellation of bail.
The prosecution, represented by Public Prosecutor D V Chauhan, strongly opposed the bail and called the incident a form of “mob terrorism” against society and the police. Despite this, the court concluded that with the chargesheet filed, trial pending and evidence already collected, keeping the accused in custody was not necessary at this stage. The case will now proceed to trial.
Senior Adv A V Gupta, Advs S P Bhandarkar, Atharva Khadse, Naveed Opai, R S Akbani, Syed Ateeb represented the applicants while Public Prosecutor (Senior Counsel) D V Chauhan assisted by APP N B Jawade represented the State.
