Sambhal court orders FIR against ASP Anuj Chaudhary, other cops

FIR Ordered Against Police Officials in Sambhal Violence Case

The chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court in Sambhal ordered the registration of an FIR against additional superintendent of police (ASP) Anuj Chaudhary, inspector Anuj Tomar, and 20 unidentified police personnel. This decision follows allegations that a youth was shot during the Sambhal violence linked to the Jama Masjid survey.

The order was issued by chief judicial magistrate Vibhanshu Sudheer.

Advocate Chaudhary Akhtar Hussain, representing the victim’s family, stated that the court accepted their plea for an FIR against the then circle officer (CO) of Sambhal, Anuj Chaudhary, and then Kotwali inspector Anuj Tomar. “My client’s son had to get his treatment done secretly to avoid police pressure. We approached the court seeking registration of an FIR against the officers involved. The CJM has ordered an FIR against all the accused,” Hussain said.

Hussain added that they learned about the order on Tuesday evening, but a written copy of the court order was not yet received as it was issued late in the day.

Details of the Case

The case relates to violence that erupted in Sambhal on November 24, 2024, during a court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid. Yameen, a resident of Mohalla Khaggu Sarai Anjuman, filed a petition in the CJM court on February 6, 2025. He alleged that his 24-year-old son, Alam, was shot by police personnel when he left home to sell rusks (toast).

In his petition, Yameen named then CO Anuj Chaudhary, inspector Anuj Tomar, and other police personnel as accused. The court heard the matter on January 9, 2026, and subsequently ordered the registration of an FIR against all concerned police officials. The order became public on Tuesday.

Current Status of Officials

Currently, Anuj Chaudhary is posted as ASP (rural) in Firozabad, while Anuj Tomar serves as the station in-charge of Chandausi Kotwali in Sambhal. During the Sambhal violence, Chaudhary was the CO of Sambhal and was later promoted to ASP. He has been in the news for both the violence and his controversial statement regarding “52 Fridays, Holi is one.”

Background of the Violence

The violence in Sambhal arose from a dispute over the Jama Masjid. The Hindu side claimed the site was originally the Harihar Temple, allegedly demolished by Babar in 1529 to construct the mosque. A petition regarding this claim was filed in the Sambhal court on November 19, 2024. On the same day, civil judge (senior division) Aditya Singh ordered a survey of the mosque premises and appointed Ramesh Singh Raghav as the advocate commissioner.

The survey team reached the Jama Masjid around 4 PM on November 19 and conducted the exercise for nearly two hours, though it remained incomplete. On November 24, the team returned to continue the survey. A large crowd gathered outside, and the situation turned violent after stone-pelting on the police team.

Consequences of the Violence

The clashes resulted in the deaths of four people due to bullet injuries. Police arrested 79 individuals, including three women, for their alleged involvement in the rioting. A total of 12 FIRs were registered at Sambhal Kotwali and Nakhasa police station. Cases were lodged against 40 named accused, including Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and Suhail Iqbal, son of SP MLA Iqbal Mahmood, along with 2,750 unidentified persons.

On June 18, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a 1,128-page charge sheet in court against 23 people, including MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq. However, Suhail Iqbal’s name was not included in the charge sheet.