HC grants bail to 2 accused in Banphoolpura riots

Dehradun: A division bench of the Uttarakhand high court comprising Justices Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Pankaj Purohit on Wednesday granted bail to Zeeshan Parvez alias Sebu and Mehboob Alam, two accused in the Haldwani Banphoolpura riots, subject to the condition that they are not involved in any other criminal cases. The two were arrested on Feb 8, 2024.The violence broke out after the district administration moved to remove alleged illegal encroachments linked to the main accused, Abdul Malik. One case alleged that Malik usurped govt land using forged affidavits, constructed illegal structures and sold plotted land. When officials attempted demolition, they were allegedly attacked with stones, triggering large-scale rioting that left government employees, police personnel and civilians injured, with reported loss of lives and damage to public property. Malik has not received any relief so far.Police registered cases under several IPC sections, including 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity), 332 and 333 (voluntarily causing hurt/grievous hurt to deter public servant), 353 (assault on public servant), 427 (mischief causing damage), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 393 (attempt to commit robbery), among others.The second additional sessions judge in Haldwani had pronounced their sentence on March 20, 2025, following which the accused filed an appeal before the HC.The defence argued that the two were falsely implicated and not named in the FIR, and pointed out that several other accused had already been granted bail. The state opposed the plea, alleging their involvement in stone-pelting, arson, gunfire and damage to govt property.