Sambhal violence case: Allahabad HC grants interim relief to SP MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq; seeks state reply by September 9

NEW DELHI: The Allahabad High Court has granted interim relief to Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq by staying proceedings in the Sambhal violence case at the lower court level.The court has asked the state government to respond within three weeks regarding the petition challenging the chargesheet filed in the case, with the next hearing scheduled for September 9, according to ANI.The case was heard by a single bench led by Justice Sameer Jain, with senior advocates Imran Ullah, Vineet Vikram, and Iqbal Ahmed representing the MP, while Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal appeared for the Uttar Pradesh government.The Uttar Pradesh Police filed a chargesheet against Barq and others in June regarding violence that erupted near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal in November last year, resulting in four deaths.Sambhal SP KK Bishnoi stated: "A total of 12 cases were registered, out of which the police filed seven. Till yesterday, police had filed a chargesheet in all the cases. A total of 92 people have been arrested and sent to jail till now. Yesterday, sheets were filed against MP Zia ur Rehman Barq, Jama Masjid Sadar chief Zafar Ali, and others under 335/2024."Bishnoi further elaborated: "MP Zia ur Rehman Barq, son of Sambhal MLA, Sohail Iqbal and several others were named; after a probe, Sohail Iqbal was let off. MP Zia ur Rehman Barq not only gave inflammatory speeches but also ensured the crowd gathered on 24th November. He spoke to Jama Masjid Sadar on the intervening night of November 23-24 to make sure the survey doesn't happen. Police have charge-sheeted the Member of Parliament in this case."According to Bishnoi, Barq was accused of delivering a provocative speech that allegedly incited violence. While Sohail Iqbal, son of SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood, was initially named as an accused, his name was later removed from the final chargesheet due to insufficient evidence.The petition filed by Barq seeks to quash the chargesheet submitted in the Sambhal violence case.