Victims’ families express deep fear and disappointment as accused cow vigilante is garlanded and cheered by supporters, raising concerns over witness safety and justice for the slain men
GURUGRAM – Monu Manesar, the main accused in the brutal 2023 murder of two Muslim men, Nasir and Junaid, was released from Bharatpur Central Jail on Saturday evening after the Rajasthan High Court granted him bail. He received a grand welcome from hundreds of supporters in his native village in Gurugram district, Haryana, where he was greeted with garlands, drum beats, and celebrations, while the families of the victims voiced serious worries about their safety and the fairness of the justice system.
Monu Manesar, also known as Mohit Yadav and linked to cow vigilante groups, had been in custody for nearly two and a half years. The high court bench led by Justice Anil Kumar Upman allowed his second bail application on 5 March. The court noted that Monu had spent over two years in jail and that not a single statement from the 74 listed prosecution witnesses had been recorded in that period, making a swift trial unlikely.
Jamil Ahmed, a relative of Nasir, expressed the pain felt by the victims’ families. “The affected family is very disappointed and scared with the bail of Monu Manesar. Our grief has increased. We fear that they may take some wrong steps in the future and put pressure on our witnesses. We are deeply disappointed,” he said.
The incident dates back to February 2023, when Nasir, 25, and Junaid, 35, cousins from Rajasthan, went missing on 15 February. Their charred bodies were discovered the next day in the Loharu area of Bhiwani district, Haryana. Police investigations revealed that the two men were allegedly abducted by cow vigilantes who suspected them of illegally transporting cattle. When no cattle were found, the accused reportedly tortured them, strangled them to death—Junaid first in Ferozepur Jharka and Nasir later in Bhiwani—then set their vehicle and bodies on fire with petrol to destroy evidence. This account came from statements during interrogation, as shared by the then IG of Bharatpur Range, Gaurav Srivastava.
The case was registered at Gopalgarh police station in Bharatpur (now under Deeg district), Rajasthan, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges of kidnapping, causing grievous hurt, and wrongful confinement.
Monu’s lawyers, including Ashwin Garg, argued that he was falsely implicated and that his role was limited to conspiracy, while co-accused Anil Kumar was the main perpetrator. They pointed out that Anil Kumar had already received bail from the Supreme Court in January 2025. They also highlighted Monu’s past cases—two acquittals and one bail—and stressed that further detention served no purpose given the trial delays.
The public prosecutor, Vijay Singh, along with senior advocate Syed Shahid Hassan representing the complainants, opposed the bail, citing the seriousness of the crime and available evidence.
Justice Upman granted bail without commenting on the merits of the case, noting the Supreme Court’s earlier decision for the co-accused and the prolonged trial. Monu was required to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties of Rs 50,000 each. The court directed him to appear when summoned, avoid any new crimes given his criminal history, and register his presence at the local police station every three months until the case concludes. Failure to do so would prompt immediate notification to the court by the station house officer.
Upon release, Monu emerged wearing a bulletproof jacket under heavy police escort. Supporters, including cow vigilantes from Haryana, gathered outside the jail. He travelled by road to his village in Gurugram, where villagers welcomed him enthusiastically. A local resident described the scene: “As soon as Monu arrived in the village, people welcomed him to the beats of drums, garlanded him and carried him home in their arms.” Hundreds reportedly travelled to Rajasthan to join the reception.
This celebratory reception has heightened fears among the Muslim victims’ families and community members, who see it as a sign of support for those involved in the killings. The bail revives memories of the communal tensions surrounding the case, including earlier disputes between the Rajasthan and Haryana governments in 2023 over police cooperation when Monu was absconding.
The release underscores ongoing concerns about delays in high-profile cases involving violence against minorities, leaving the families of Nasir and Junaid to grapple with renewed grief and insecurity as the trial continues.
