The Sessions Court said his prolonged detention would adversely affect him and his family
NAGPUR – A sessions court in Nagpur has granted bail to Minorities Democratic Party president Mohammad Hamid Mohammad Hanif, who was arrested last month on charges of inciting communal violence following unrest over demands by Hindutva groups to remove the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The court, in its bail order on Monday (21 April), questioned the prolonged detention of Hamid, saying keeping him in jail any longer would adversely affect him and his family.
“Bail is the rule, jail is the exception,” said Additional Sessions Judge MB Ojha, while granting relief to the 45-year-old political leader. “The accused has been in custody for a long time and the investigation is complete. If the accused remains in jail for a long time and is not released on bail, then he and his family will have to face difficulties in life, which is not good for their future,” the court stated.
Hamid was arrested on March 19 by the Nagpur cyber police, two days after large-scale violence broke out in the Chitnis Park and Mahal areas of the city. The unrest followed a rumour that a chaadar (sacred cloth) with holy verses written on it had been burned during a protest organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. The groups were demonstrating in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb.
The rumour quickly spread, triggering anger and unrest in the Muslim community. Clashes erupted between members of the two communities. Stones were pelted, vehicles torched, and homes damaged. Four people were injured in the stone-pelting and police resorted to a lathi-charge and tear gas to control the situation.
The protest, initiated by Bajrang Dal activists near the statue of Shivaji Maharaj in the Mahal area, turned volatile after claims that the Holy Quran had been desecrated. According to locals, the tension escalated after misleading videos were circulated online, fuelling public outrage.
The most violent scenes were reported in Chitnis Park and Friday Talao Road. Several four-wheelers were set ablaze, and residential buildings were attacked with stones. The Nagpur police deployed extra forces and began an investigation. Amid the crackdown, Hamid was arrested and accused of spreading inflammatory messages on social media.
Civil society members and minority rights groups have criticised the arrest as politically motivated. “Targeting Mohammad Hamid is an attempt to silence democratic voices from minority communities,” said advocate Feroze Sheikh, a local human rights activist. “If incitement is the concern, why were the right-wing leaders who gave provocative speeches during the protest not held accountable?”
The incident has raised serious concerns about growing communal polarisation and the selective targeting of Muslims under the guise of law enforcement. Many activists argue that such police actions often ignore the provocative role played by Hindutva groups.
“The root of the violence lies in hate-filled slogans and communal campaigns by extremist Hindu groups,” said Samina Khan, a political science professor based in Nagpur. “But instead of holding them responsible, the state machinery tends to arrest Muslim leaders, even when there’s no direct evidence of their involvement.”
The court’s order also observed that the trial would take time and detaining the accused until then would serve no purpose. With the bail granted, Hamid is expected to be released later this week.
Hamid’s family welcomed the court’s decision. “My husband is innocent. He was arrested because of his identity and his political views,” said his wife, Naseema Hamid. “This bail gives us some hope, but we still fear for our safety.”
Meanwhile, rights groups continue to demand a fair and transparent investigation into the violence, with accountability fixed on all those responsible, regardless of their political or religious affiliations.
The incident is the latest in a series of communal flare-ups across Maharashtra, especially in districts where Hindutva organisations have actively campaigned for the removal of Islamic historical figures and monuments.
The Aurangzeb tomb controversy has been at the centre of rising tensions, with Hindutva groups claiming it glorifies tyranny, while scholars and community leaders argue that erasing history will only deepen social divides.
