Allahabad High Court denies bail to Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan over Bareilly unrest
The Allahabad High Court rejected a bail application by Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, ruling that his slogan "sar tan se juda" threatened India's sovereignty.
In a Monday order, the Allahabad High Court turned down the bail request of Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, founder of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, citing his slogan "sar tan se juda" as a direct affront to India's sovereignty and legal order. Justice Ashutosh Srivastava clarified that unlike devotional chants such as "Allahu Akbar" or "Jai Shri Ram," the contested slogan undermines state authority. Raza has been in custody since mid-October 2025 following a violent episode in Bareilly, where he urged Muslims to gather at Islamia Inter College after a rally permit was denied.
Despite a Section 163 prohibition, a large crowd proceeded, resulting in clashes with police, injuries, and property damage. After the unrest, Raza delivered a speech thanking the crowd and lauding their actions, which the court found objectionable. Although a chargesheet was lodged in December 2025, formal charges have not yet been framed, and the court declined to grant bail at this stage.
Why it matters
The ruling underscores how Indian courts treat slogans seen as threatening national unity, affecting freedom of expression and protest rights.
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