Allahabad High Court Denies Bail to Cleric in Bareilly Riot Case
The Allahabad High Court has refused to grant bail to Islamic cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, who faces charges of inciting violence during a protest in Bareilly in September 2025. The protest was reportedly against alleged government excesses targeting Muslims [Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan v. State of UP]. The decision was rendered by Justice Ashutosh Srivastava.
Justice Srivastava noted that Maulana Tauqeer Raza had organized the protest to further his religious and political agenda without securing the necessary official permission for the gathering. Despite the cancellation of the planned assembly at Islamia Inter College ground due to denied permissions, the protest proceeded. When the police intervened, the situation escalated into rioting and resulted in damage to public property.
The court was critical of Raza for addressing the crowd post-incident, where he commended the participants for their involvement. Justice Srivastava remarked, “The conduct of the applicant after the incident by giving a speech thanking the masses for responding to the call in large numbers and applauding their acts cannot also be approved of.”
The court also supported the argument presented by Additional Advocate General Sri Anoop Trivedi, who contended that the slogan “Gushtakh-e-Nabi Ke Ek Hi Saja, Sar Tan Se Juda, Sar Tan Se Juda” posed a threat to the rule of law and the nation’s sovereignty and integrity. The court emphasized that such slogans incite rebellion and are punishable by law.
Furthermore, the court distinguished this slogan from others like “Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu-Akbar,” “Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal,” “Jai Shri Ram,” and “Har Har Mahadev,” which are expressions of reverence towards deities or spiritual leaders.
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In a similar ruling from December 2025, the High Court had denied bail to a co-accused, stating that the use of the “Sar Tan Se Juda” slogan contravenes Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which addresses acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. The court also mentioned that such slogans contradict the core principles of Islam.
Raza had allegedly called for a demonstration against the state over purported atrocities and false allegations against Muslim youth. The contentious slogan was reportedly chanted during the protest. Following the clashes with police, an FIR was filed against 25 named individuals and approximately 1,700 unidentified participants. Subsequent investigations led to arrests, though Raza was not physically present at the protest site.
Legal representation for the petitioner included Senior Advocate Satish Trivedi with Advocate Seshadari Trivedi, and Senior Advocate Imran Ullah with Advocate Mohd Imdad Siddiqui. The state’s legal team comprised Additional Advocate General Anoop Trivedi alongside Advocates Nitesh Kumar Srivastava, Paritosh Malviya, and Sanjay Kumar Singh.
