Sambhal , The brother of Mulla Afroz, accused of inciting the Sambhal violence in 2024 and jailed for 20 months, has welcomed the Supreme Court quashing his detention under the National Security Act and asked for an impartial investigation.
Our hearts are happy after a long time… we have got some relief,” Shahroz told reporters after the Supreme Court verdict on Tuesday. “The Supreme Court has given a very good decision. He added that Afroz had secured bail in all six criminal cases related to the incident and now also received relief from the Supreme Court in the NSA matter. The apex court also observed that Afroz had already suffered considerable loss of liberty despite being granted bail in the criminal cases related to the incident.
Four people were killed and dozens injured in clashes between protesting locals and security personnel on November 24, 2024, during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. Besides quashing Afroz’s preventive detention under the NSA, the Supreme Court imposed a cost of ₹ 10 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh government, holding that a confession allegedly made before police could not, by itself and in the absence of independent supporting material, form the basis for preventive detention. Afroz was arrested on January 17, 2025 and the NSA detention order passed against him on October 13, 2025, according to court records. The Allahabad High Court upheld his NSA detention in June 2026, but the Supreme Court has set aside that decision.
He said there was no electronic evidence or audio-video recording against Afroz.
“My appeal to the government, administration and the chief minister is that an impartial investigation should be conducted so that it can be established who is guilty and who is not,” Shahroz said.
