The Allahabad High Court has refused to grant bail to Maulana Taukir Raza Khan in a case linked to the September 2025 violence in Bareilly, observing that the slogan “Sar Tan Se Juda” cannot be equated with religious slogans such as “Allahu-Akbar”, “Sat Sri Akal”, “Jai Shri Ram” or “Har Har Mahadev”.
Justice Ashutosh Srivastava said the slogan “Gustakh-e-Nabi Ke Ek Hi Saja, Sar Tan Se Juda” was different in nature from slogans expressing respect for a religious figure or deity.
Court Says Slogan Challenges Authority of Law
The court observed that slogans such as “Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu-Akbar”, “Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal”, “Jai Shri Ram” and “Har Har Mahadev” express respect towards the concerned God or Guru.
However, referring to the “Sar Tan Se Juda” slogan, the court said it was “nothing but a challenge to the authority of law as also to the sovereignty and integrity of India” and that it “incites the people for an armed rebellion which is punishable under the law”.
The court therefore said it was not inclined to release Khan on bail at this stage.
Raza Accused in September 2025 Violence
Khan is facing an FIR registered in connection with the violence that broke out in Bareilly on September 26, 2025. He has been in custody since September 27.
According to the prosecution, a call was made for members of the Muslim community to gather at Islamia Inter College after Friday prayers to protest against alleged atrocities and false cases against them.
The local administration had imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), prohibiting the assembly of five or more people at public places.
The prosecution alleged that despite the restrictions, around 200–250 people marched towards the Islamia Inter College grounds. Police allegedly tried to stop the gathering, following which the crowd raised the “Sar Tan Se Juda” slogan and allegedly attacked police personnel with stones and petrol bombs and opened fire.
Several police personnel were reportedly injured and public property was damaged.
The state described Khan as the “kingpin and mastermind” behind the violence.
Defence Says Raza Was Not at Protest Site
Khan denied involvement in mobilising or participating in the gathering. His lawyers argued that he had been placed under house arrest around 10 am on September 26 and was not present at the site of the violence.
It was also argued that Khan had neither delivered a speech nor made any appeal calling for violence or disruption of public order.
The High Court acknowledged that Khan was not physically present at the place of the incident and had been confined to the house of co-accused Farhat Ali.
However, the court noted that Khan had called upon members of the Muslim community to assemble at Islamia Inter College after Friday prayers to protest government action and submit a memorandum to the President through the Bareilly District Magistrate.
Court Questions Conduct After Violence
The court also considered the fact that the proposed gathering had not received permission from the administration. Khan’s side argued that the call was later cancelled after permission was refused and restrictions were imposed.
However, the court noted that people still marched towards the Islamia grounds. It said the crowd allegedly engaged in rioting and damaged public property after police stopped them.
The court also referred to Khan’s conduct after the incident, observing that his speech thanking people for responding to his call and applauding their actions “cannot also be approved of”.
The bail application was consequently rejected.
