PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court has rejected the bail plea of Ittehad-e-Millat Council founder Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan in connection with the September 2025 Bareilly violence case.Justice Ashutosh Srivastava, in an order passed on Monday, said the slogan could not be equated with religious expressions such as “Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu Akbar”, “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal”, “Jai Shri Ram” or “Har Har Mahadev”.The court noted that the latter slogans express reverence towards God or a Guru, while agreeing with the state’s submission that the “sar tan se juda” slogan amounted to a challenge to the rule of law and India’s sovereignty and integrity.Raza has been in jail since October 13, 2025, in connection with violence that erupted in Bareilly during a rally linked to the ‘I Love Mohammed’ campaign.According to the police complaint, Raza had called upon members of the Muslim community to gather at Islamia Inter College after Friday prayers on September 26, 2025, following the authorities’ refusal to grant permission for a rally.Despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, a large crowd marched towards Shyamganj Chauraha carrying placards and raising slogans, police alleged. The gathering turned violent when police personnel attempted to stop the march, leading to clashes, injuries to policemen and damage to public property.The high court said Raza had mobilised people to assemble without permission from the local administration. While he argued that the call for the gathering had later been cancelled following the denial of permission and imposition of prohibitory orders, the court noted that a large number of people nevertheless marched towards the venue.The court also disapproved of Raza’s conduct after the violence, observing that he delivered a speech thanking the crowd for responding to his call in large numbers and applauding their actions.The bench further noted that although the chargesheet was filed on December 21, 2025, charges against Raza are yet to be framed, and declined to grant him bail at this stage.(With PTI inputs)
