Advocate Zafar Ali, the chairperson of Sambhal's Shahi Jama mosque's managing committee was arrested and sent to jail on 23 March, Sunday by the police — a day before he had to give his statement to the judicial commission probing into the Sambhal violence.
He has been arrested in connection to the violence case, in relation to an FIR that was filed on 24 November 2024.
Interestingly, new non-bailable sections were added such as 230 and 231 of BNS 230 (both sections deal with giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence and the punishment for the same).
Additionally, section 3 and 4 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act have been added, Zafar's son, Haider Ali, a junior lawyer himself confirmed to The Quint.
Yesterday, a court in Chandausi rejected Zafar's bail plea and sent him to Moradabad jail on two-day remand. A bail plea was then filed in the session court. The bail hearing took place today on 24 March. The police records were accounted for and the next date of hearing is 27 March 2025.
Meanwhile, the District Civil Bar Association also led protests in the city against Zafar's arrest on 24 March.
On 3 March, The Quint spoke to Zafar for our ground report from Sambhal. We asked him about the new issues surrounding the Jama Masjid, namely the debate over whitewashing and the posters on the back wall of the mosque.