Nagpur Violence: Police Arrest Mastermind Faheem Khan, Secure 3-Day Custody

Nagpur Police arrested Faheem Shamim Khan, identified as the alleged mastermind behind the communal violence that rocked the city on March 17, 2025.

Khan, a local politician and city president of the Minorities Democratic Party (MDP), was apprehended on Wednesday and remanded to police custody for three days until March 21, following a court appearance before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Chennai.

The arrest comes after violent clashes erupted in Nagpur’s Chitnis Park and Mahal areas, triggered by protests from right-wing groups Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Rumors that a religious text had been burned during the agitation escalated tensions, leading to widespread unrest.

The violence left 34 police personnel and several civilians injured, with mobs engaging in stone-pelting, arson, and attacks on law enforcement.

According to the FIR filed at Ganeshpeth Police Station, Khan is accused of inciting a crowd of 50-60 people and delivering a provocative speech that fueled the riots. Video evidence captured him rallying the mob shortly before the clashes intensified, prompting police to name him as the key orchestrator.

Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal stated that the violence appeared “pre-planned,” a sentiment echoed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who described it as a “premeditated conspiracy.”

Khan’s arrest follows extensive combing operations across the city, with over 50 rioters detained so far. The JMFC court granted the three-day custody to allow police to interrogate Khan further, recover potential evidence such as his mobile phone, and investigate whether he acted alone or as part of a larger network.

Authorities are also probing his political connections, given his history of contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, albeit losing by a wide margin.

As Nagpur remains under a curfew in 10 sensitive areas, with 1,000 security personnel deployed, the situation is reportedly under control. The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report on the incident, especially with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city looming.

Khan’s custody marks a critical step in unraveling the motives and coordination behind one of Nagpur’s most disruptive communal flare-ups in recent times.