Jailed cleric Tauqeer Raza’s son held with drugs after accident

Lucknow: The son of jailed Bareilly cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza was arrested on Tuesday night after police recovered suspected drugs and a syringe from his car following a road accident on the Lucknow–Delhi National Highway in Shahjahanpur district.Police identified the accused as Farman Raza Khan (30), who was travelling alone in a Hyundai Verna from Bareilly towards Prayagraj.
Shahjahanpur SSP Rajesh Diwedi confirmed to TOI about taking Farman into custody. The accident occurred around 9pm when Farman's car rammed into an UPSRTC bus in Tilhar. The impact was severe, leaving the front portion of the car badly damaged. Farman, however, escaped unhurt.Police said Farman's behaviour after the crash raised suspicion. When Tilhar police reached the spot and asked him to open the car's boot for inspection, he allegedly refused and began arguing with the personnel. ASP (rural) Diksha Bhavare also reached the scene following the commotion.Upon forcibly opening the boot, police recovered a suitcase containing a small packet of white powder, suspected to be drugs, weighing approximately half a gram, along with a syringe.Farman was taken to the police station for questioning, where he reportedly admitted to consuming drugs himself. He was subsequently taken into custody and subjected to a medical examination. Police said further legal action is being initiated as per procedure.Investigators said Farman was en route to Prayagraj to meet a lawyer in connection with his father's bail proceedings. His travel plan reportedly changed abruptly after reaching Shahjahanpur, culminating in the accident.Maulana Tauqeer Raza is lodged in Fatehgarh jail in connection with the Sept 26 violence in Bareilly, which erupted after calls for a mass gathering and march following Friday prayers. The clashes led to stone-pelting and alleged firing at multiple locations, prompting police baton charges and the use of tear gas. As many as 11 cases were registered in the incident, with Tauqeer Raza named as an accused in 10 of them. Police officials said the recovery from Farman Raza's vehicle and his admission are being verified, and appropriate sections of law will be invoked based on forensic reports and medical findings.