Sambhal Violence: Major Setback for SP MP Ziaur Rahman Barq, High Court Rejects Plea to Quash FIR
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ziaur Rahman Barq has faced a significant setback in connection with the violence that occurred during a survey on November 24 at the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. The Allahabad High Court has rejected Barq’s plea to cancel the FIR filed against him.
The court ruled that the FIR, which had been filed against Barq, would not be quashed, and the police investigation would proceed. However, the High Court instructed that the police should refrain from arresting Barq for the time being.
During the hearing, the court stated that the sections under which the FIR was filed against Barq carry a punishment of less than seven years. As a result, the police will issue a notice to Barq, requesting his presence for questioning. The court emphasized that Barq is expected to cooperate with the police investigation.
The court further specified that if Barq fails to respond to the police notice or refuses to cooperate with the investigation, only then will an arrest be considered. The court has also called for the implementation of a previous Supreme Court order on this matter.
This case relates to the violence that erupted in Sambhal on November 24 during the mosque survey. Barq, the local SP MP, has been named as the prime accused, with an FIR lodged against him under multiple sections. In response, Barq challenged the FIR in the Allahabad High Court, seeking its cancellation.
The case was heard by the division bench of Justices Rajiv Gupta and Azhar Hussain Idrisi. Advocates Imran Ullah and Syed Iqbal Ahmed, representing Barq, argued that he was not present in Sambhal when the violence occurred. Government advocate AK Sand presented the case on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government.
