Will the Allahabad HC Address the Mosque Committee's Petition in the Sambhal Jama Masjid Violence Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Allahabad High Court to hear crucial plea regarding mosque violence
- Chairman Zafar Ali challenges police's extensive charge sheet
- Significant implications for community and justice system
- Shariq Satha identified as alleged mastermind behind riots
- Multiple fatalities and injuries raise serious concerns
Prayagraj, Sep 15 (NationPress) The Allahabad High Court is set to deliberate today on the Sambhal Jama Masjid violence case, following a petition from mosque committee Chairman Zafar Ali who is contesting the police charge sheet.
Ali has approached the trial court to seek the annulment of the charge sheet related to the unrest that occurred during the survey of Sambhal Jama Masjid on November 24, 2024.
His involvement emerged during the investigation, resulting in his arrest and subsequent detention. On July 24, the High Court granted him bail.
The case is assigned to a single bench presided over by Justice Sameer Jain, who is anticipated to hear the matter later today.
This development is significant as it follows a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttar Pradesh Police presenting an extensive charge sheet exceeding 4,400 pages across six cases associated with the violent incidents.
Authorities have identified Shariq Satha, a Sambhal local, as the alleged architect behind the riots. The violence has led to five fatalities and numerous injuries.
Satha, who purportedly ran a car theft operation involving over 300 stolen vehicles from the Delhi-NCR area, is also linked to underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim and Pakistan's ISI. Investigators disclosed that he escaped India using a counterfeit passport.
A series of dubious financial transactions tied to account holders in Sambhal were uncovered, alongside the recovery of foreign-manufactured cartridges at the violence sites.
Authorities indicated that Satha's associates were accountable for the gunfire that claimed the lives of four victims. However, the absence of a First Information Report (FIR) for the fifth death has raised further inquiries.
The charge sheet implicates Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and the son of local MLA Iqbal Mahmood among the accused. In total, 37 individuals have been explicitly named, with an additional 3,750 individuals implicated without identification in relation to the violence.