PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court is set to continue its hearing on Tuesday into the high-profile Sambhal violence case, where all parties will present their arguments. This follows Monday’s proceedings on petitions filed by the Uttar Pradesh government and Sambhal’s Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Anuj Chaudhary.
The court, presided over by Justice Sumeet Gopal, examined challenges to an FIR ordered against ASP Chaudhary and other officers by Sambhal’s then Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM). The order stemmed from a complaint by Yamina, father of a youth injured in the November 2024 clashes, who alleged police fired at his son with intent to kill.
Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal, representing the state, argued that the magistrate violated Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) provisions, particularly Section 175(4), which safeguards public servants performing duties from frivolous prosecutions. He emphasized the mandatory two-step inquiry process before ordering probes against officials.
Goyal highlighted that the complainant failed to mention prior complaints at the local station, a legal prerequisite. The CJM also ignored an existing police report confirming an ongoing investigation into the incident, the AAG contended.
The state portrayed the Sambhal unrest not as an isolated event but as chaos erupting from mounting tensions at the site. The hearing underscores tensions between judicial oversight and police operational autonomy in riot control scenarios.
As arguments unfold, the outcome could set precedents for handling FIRs against officers in volatile situations. The bench reserved orders, with Tuesday’s session expected to delve deeper into procedural lapses and evidence review.
This case has drawn attention amid ongoing debates on police accountability during communal flare-ups in Uttar Pradesh. Stakeholders await clarity on balancing public safety with legal protections for law enforcers.