In Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, a celebratory procession led by Zafar Ali, chairman of the Shahi Jama Masjid Management Committee, has landed him and others in legal trouble for allegedly violating prohibitory orders.

The 40-km roadshow, stretching from Moradabad to Sambhal, followed Ali’s release from jail on August 1, 2025, where he was held in connection with violence during a survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid last year. The procession, marked by flower showers and festive events, drew 50 to 60 participants, including named individuals Sarfaraz, Tahir, and Haider.

Police filed an FIR at Sambhal Kotwali station on Tuesday after videos of the event went viral on social media, prompting suo-motu action. Sub-Inspector Ashish Tomar’s complaint accused the group of defying local restrictions.

The violence tied to the mosque survey on November 24, 2024, left four dead and 29 police personnel injured, with Ali and Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq among those previously booked, alongside 2,750 unidentified individuals. Authorities are now intensifying scrutiny of the procession, raising tensions in the region as legal proceedings unfold.

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