Sambhal violence: Allahabad HC stays lower court order directing FIR against cops over alleged police firing
LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court has stayed the operation of a January 9, 2026, order passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Sambhal, which had directed authorities to register an FIR against then Circle Officer (CO) Sambhal, Anuj Kumar Chaudhary, and a dozen other police personnel in connection with the violence that erupted in the city on November 24, 2024.
In addition to Chaudhary, the court also granted interim relief to then Sambhal Kotwali Inspector Anuj Tomar. The order came after a petition was filed by Chaudhary and the state government, challenging the CJM’s decision. The matter is set to be heard again on February 24.
The petition filed by Anuj Chaudhary and the state government raised several points challenging the CJM’s order. Both petitions were consolidated by the High Court for hearing. During the two-hour hearing, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government presented its side of the argument.
The case relates to a complaint filed by Yameen, a resident of Mohalla Khaggu Sarai Anjuman, under the Nakhasa police station area in Sambhal. Yameen alleged that his son, Alam, who had left home on November 24, 2024, to sell rusk, was shot by police after reaching the Shahi Jama Masjid area. Yameen named 12 police officers in his complaint, including Anuj Chaudhary and Anuj Tomar.
On January 9, 2026, the CJM had ordered the registration of an FIR against the accused police personnel. Yameen’s lawyer, Chaudhary Akhtar Hussain, claimed that Alam had sought treatment while hiding due to fear of the police. The court was urged to register an FIR against former CO Anuj Chaudhary, former Inspector Anuj Tomar, and other unidentified policemen.
Sambhal SP KK Bishnoi responded by saying that a judicial inquiry had already been conducted into the violence and that the FIR against the police officers would not be registered. He further announced that an appeal against the lower court’s order would be filed in the High Court.
The incident occurred during a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid premises, which had been ordered by the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Aditya Singh, on November 19, 2024. A large crowd gathered during the survey on November 24, and allegedly began pelting stones at the police, resulting in violent clashes. Five people were killed by gunshot wounds, while SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, CO Anuj Chaudhary, a Deputy Collector, and 29 policemen were injured.
Following the violence, the police arrested 79 individuals, including three women, and registered 12 FIRs at Sambhal Kotwali and Nakhasa police stations. An FIR was lodged against 40 named accused, including MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq and Suhail Iqbal, the son of SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood, along with 2,750 unidentified individuals. On June 18, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a 1,128-page chargesheet against 23 accused, including MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq. Notably, the name of Suhail Iqbal, son of the SP MLA, was not included in the chargesheet.
In a related development, on January 20, 2026, the Allahabad High Court transferred 14 judges, including Vibhanshu Sudhir, the CJM of Sambhal, who had ordered the FIR against the policemen on January 9.