Bareilly DM and SSP summoned in contempt case, non-bailable warrant will be issued if they do not appear:

Prayagraj: Creating a stir in the administrative corridors of Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court has ordered Bareilly District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya to appear in the court in person. The court has taken this strict step while hearing a contempt petition. The Honorable Court has bluntly stated that if the officers do not appear at the appointed time, their presence will be ensured through a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW).

The last hearing will be held on March 23 at 2 pm

The division bench of Justices Atul Sridharan and Siddharth Nandan has listed the matter for final orders on March 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm. The court has made it clear that the officers will have to appear directly in the court and strict legal action can be taken on any kind of excuse.

What is the whole controversy? Namaz at home and threat of ‘bulldozer’

The matter is of Mohammad Ganj village of Bareilly. It is alleged that on January 16, 2026, some people of the Muslim community were offering collective namaz in the house of a person named Haseen Khan. On the complaint of neighboring Hindu families, the police reached there and stopped the namaz.

Petitioner Haseen Khan alleges that the police picked him up while he was offering Namaz and challaned him. Not only this, it has also been alleged in the petition that later some influential people threatened him that if he spoke against the police in the court, a ‘bulldozer’ would be used on his house. Haseen Khan told the court that she was illiterate and her thumb impression was made on some papers by intimidation.

Court gave 24 hours armed security

During the hearing, Haseen Khan appealed to the court for protection, citing threat to her life and property. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the court ordered that Haseen Khan be provided with two armed guards (Gunners) for 24 hours with immediate effect. These guards will be with them everywhere. The court has directed to send a copy of the order to the Advocate General’s office so that security arrangements can be ensured from today itself.

Government’s argument: action taken on complaint

At the same time, Additional Advocate General Anup Trivedi, appearing in the court on behalf of the government, said that on January 16, permission was sought for Namaz in private property, but after a local dispute and complaint from other families, the police had intervened to maintain law and order. Now all eyes are fixed on March 23, when top officials of Bareilly will stand in the dock of the High Court and give their explanation.