The Allahabad High Court has rejected the bail plea of Ittehad-e-Millat Council founder Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan in connection with the violence that broke out in Bareilly in September 2025. The court refused to grant relief to Raza and noted his role in mobilising people without administrative permission.

Hearing the matter, Justice Ashutosh Srivastava said ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ can’t be equated with religious slogans and “Sar Tan Se Juda”.  He noted that religious chants such as “Nara-e-Takbeer”, “Allah Hu Akbar”, “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal”, “Jai Shri Ram” and “Har Har Mahadev” express devotion towards God or a guru.

The court agreed with the Uttar Pradesh government’s argument that the slogan “Sar Tan Se Juda” poses a challenge to the rule of law and India’s sovereignty and integrity. The observation formed an important part of the court’s reasoning while deciding Raza’s bail plea.

Raza has been in jail since October 13, 2025, in connection with the violence linked to the “I Love Muhammad” campaign in Bareilly. The case relates to events on September 26, when tensions escalated after permission was denied to a rally.  

According to the police complaint, Raza called upon members of the Muslim community to gather at Islamia Inter College after Friday prayers. The gathering took place despite the denial of permission for the proposed rally. A large crowd later moved towards the Shyamganj intersection.

Police attempted to stop the march after prohibitory orders were imposed. The situation then turned violent, with clashes reported between the crowd and the police. Several policemen sustained injuries during the violence. Public property was also damaged during the clashes.

The High Court took note of Raza’s conduct before and after the incident. It observed that he had mobilised people despite not having administrative permission for the gathering. The court also referred to his actions after the violence. According to the court, Raza thanked the crowd for responding to his call.

The court’s observations came while considering whether Raza should be granted bail during the ongoing legal proceedings. The prosecution opposed his release and highlighted the circumstances surrounding the violence and his alleged role in bringing people together despite restrictions.

The chargesheet was filed on December 21, 2025, but charges have not been framed yet, and the High Court decided not to grant Raza bail at this stage. As per the court’s ruling, Raza will continue to remain in jail, as his bail application was rejected based on the allegations, his conduct and the circumstances leading to the Bareilly violence.

The ruling also underlined the court’s view that not every slogan can be placed in the same category as a religious chant. By clearly distinguishing “Sar Tan Se Juda” from several religious slogans, the court said the former has implications beyond religious expression and raises concerns related to the rule of law, sovereignty and the integrity of the country.