Court grants bail to Hamid Engineer in March 17 riots case
Nagpur: A sessions court here on Monday granted
conditional bail
to
Hamid Engineer
, a local political activist and founder of
Minorities Democratic Party
(MDP), in the case relating to inciting
communal violence
through social media posts before the March 17 riots in Mahal.
Additional sessions judge NB Ojha approved the bail on a surety of Rs50,000. As part of the conditions, the 69-year-old accused is barred from leaving the country and is ordered to report to the Cyber police station in Sadar every Tuesday and Friday at 11 am. He is also required to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
Police charged Engineer, whose full name is Mohammad Hamid Mohammad Hanif, under sections related to sedition and rioting, citing his alleged role in provoking tensions that escalated during a protest seeking the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb. His arrest followed that of Mohammad Shehzad Parvez Mohammad Ibrahim (45), also from Nagpur, in connection with the same case.
According to police officials, Engineer's speeches and online posts were a catalyst for the unrest. Investigators claim he maintained close ties with Fahim Khan, MDP's Nagpur city president and one of the main accused in the case. The Cyber police allege that both individuals used inflammatory rhetoric to deepen communal divisions.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Engineer, a retired public works department employee, rose to prominence in 2002 after leading a mosque control dispute in Mominpura, where he challenged the Tablighi Jamaat's authority and championed Barelvi Sunni practices. Known for his Sufi-leaning politics and community activism, he has remained a controversial figure in the city's minority politics.
His counsel, advocate Ashwin Ingole, filed the bail application. The police earlier opposed bail, asserting the need for further custodial interrogation. After the investigating officer failed to appear in the previous hearing, the court granted final opportunity for argument on April 21 before pronouncing its decision.
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