Why did a Sambhal court order an FIR against senior Uttar Pradesh ‘super cop’ Anuj Chaudhary and 20 unidentified police personnel in connection with the 2024 Sambhal violence? The answer lies in a complaint
filed by Yameen, who alleged that his son was shot and injured by police during the unrest — an allegation the court said disclosed cognisable offences requiring criminal investigation.
The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Vibhanshu Sudhir passed the order on January 9 on a plea filed by Yameen, directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against then Circle Officer (CO) Sambhal Anuj Chaudhary — currently posted as Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural), Firozabad — Inspector Anuj Tomar, and around 20 unidentified police personnel.
The order was passed on Tuesday by Chief Judicial Magistrate Vibhanshu Sudhir while acting on a petition filed by Yameen, a resident of Khaggu Sarai Anjuman locality under Nakhasa police station limits.
In his petition, filed on February 6, 2025, Yameen stated that his 24-year-old son Alam had left home on November 24, 2024, to sell rusks (toast). According to the complaint, when Alam reached the area near the Shahi Jama Masjid — where violence later erupted during a court-ordered survey — police allegedly opened fire and he was hit by a bullet.
The complaint named then CO Sambhal Anuj Chaudhary, Kotwali Sambhal Inspector Anuj Tomar, and 12 other policemen as accused, alleging that the firing was unjustified and that no FIR was registered despite the injury.
After hearing the matter on January 9, 2026, the CJM observed that the allegations made out a prima facie case involving cognisable offences. The court ruled that the existence of a judicial inquiry into the overall violence did not preclude registration of an FIR when a specific complaint alleged criminal conduct by identified individuals.
The court, therefore, ordered the police to lodge an FIR against the named officers and unidentified personnel under relevant provisions of law. The order became public only on Tuesday, when details of the ruling surfaced.
Yameen’s counsel, Advocate Chaudhary Akhtar Hussain, said the injured youth had allegedly undergone medical treatment discreetly, fearing police action. The lawyer confirmed that the court had accepted the plea for registration of an FIR, though the certified copy of the written order was awaited as it was issued late in the evening.
Reacting to the development, Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said the police department would challenge the court order in a higher forum. “A judicial inquiry into the Sambhal violence has already been completed. Therefore, there is no requirement for a separate FIR. We will file an appeal against the court’s order,” Bishnoi said.
Police officials have maintained that firing during the violence was carried out to control an aggressive mob and in accordance with established procedures.
The Sambhal violence
The violence broke out on November 24, 2024, during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid following a petition by the Hindu side claiming that the mosque was built after demolishing a Harihar temple in 1529 during Mughal ruler Babur’s reign.
On November 19, 2024, a Sambhal civil court had directed a survey of the mosque and appointed advocate Ramesh Singh Raghav as court commissioner. An initial survey was conducted the same day but remained incomplete, leading to a second visit on November 24.
As the survey team entered the mosque premises, a large crowd gathered. Stone-pelting was reported, following which clashes broke out between protesters and police. The violence led to the death of four civilians due to gunshot injuries, while 29 police personnel, including SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, then CO Anuj Chaudhary, and a deputy collector, sustained injuries.
Aftermath: FIRs and chargesheets
Following the violence, police arrested 79 people, including three women, and registered 12 FIRs at Sambhal Kotwali and Nakhasa police stations.
The FIRs named 40 accused individuals and nearly 2,750 unidentified persons, including Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and other political figures. On June 18, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a 1,128-page chargesheet against 23 accused, including MP Barq. The name of SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood’s son, Suhail Iqbal—earlier named in FIRs—did not figure in the chargesheet.
At the time of the violence, Anuj Chaudhary was posted as CO Sambhal. He was later promoted to the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police. He had also courted controversy earlier over his “52 Jumme, Holi ek” remark, which had drawn political criticism.
Inspector Anuj Tomar is currently posted as Station House Officer (SHO) of Chandausi Kotwali.
