Uttarakhand High Court grants bail to Abdul Malik’s son and driver after long detention, while the main accused and ex-councillor Shakeel Ahmed remain in judicial custody
HALDWANI – In a significant development in the Haldwani violence case, the Uttarakhand High Court has granted bail to Abdul Moeed, son of the main accused Abdul Malik, and his driver Mohammad Zaheer. Both had been in jail for nearly a year following the Banbhulpura riots, which erupted earlier this year. However, the court has decided to keep Abdul Malik in judicial custody, marking a setback for the family.
The division bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Pankaj heard the bail pleas and announced the order on Thursday. While granting relief to Moeed and Zaheer, the bench said the next hearing on Abdul Malik’s bail plea will take place within two weeks.
Abdul Moeed, facing three separate cases, maintained that he had no role in the violence and was not present at the site during the clashes. His lawyer argued that the police had implicated him only because of his relation to Abdul Malik. “My client has been made a scapegoat because he is Abdul Malik’s son,” the defence counsel said. “There is no concrete evidence placing him at the scene of the incident.”
The court, after reviewing the case documents, found no substantial grounds to deny bail to Moeed. It also granted similar relief to driver Zaheer, who was accused of assisting Malik during the riots. Both men were released in three FIRs filed by the police.
At the same time, the court released another accused, Nazim, who had also been jailed for months.
However, the hearing brought no relief for Abdul Malik himself. The court ruled that Malik, seen by authorities as the “main conspirator” of the Haldwani violence, would remain in custody until further notice.
Government lawyer RK Pant opposed Malik’s bail plea, saying, “Abdul Malik’s role is central in provoking the unrest. Several witnesses and digital records link him directly to the incidents.”
The bench also denied bail to Shakeel Ahmed, the then councillor of Banbhulpura, citing his involvement in two other criminal cases in addition to the riot charges.
The Haldwani violence, which broke out in Banbhulpura earlier this year, led to mass arrests and destruction of property, following what locals described as unjust demolition drives targeting Muslim settlements. Human rights groups have repeatedly criticised the state authorities for their selective action against the Muslim community, calling the investigation biased and politically motivated.
A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Everyone in our neighbourhood knows that Abdul Malik has been targeted for raising his voice against illegal demolitions. This is not justice; this is vengeance.”
Another community elder added, “The authorities acted harshly only in Muslim areas. Houses were razed without notice, and those who protested were branded rioters.”
While the government continues to defend the police action, Muslim organisations and civil rights activists have demanded a judicial inquiry into what they call “state-sponsored persecution.”
The next hearing on Abdul Malik’s bail plea is expected in two weeks, and his supporters hope the judiciary will recognise what they describe as “a pattern of injustice against Muslims in Haldwani.”
For now, as Abdul Malik remains behind bars, his family waits anxiously. His wife, in an emotional statement, said, “My husband is innocent. He only stood for the rights of our people. We still believe the truth will come out.”
The Haldwani violence erupted after a demolition drive in the Banbhulpura area, where Muslim families accused authorities of bulldozing homes without proper legal notice. Clashes broke out between residents and police, leading to several injuries, arrests, and widespread property damage.
While officials insist the operation was “lawful,” Muslim residents claim it was a targeted move aimed at displacing minorities from the region. The ongoing court proceedings have become a symbol of the growing tension between the state and the Muslim community in Uttarakhand.
