Disclaimer: This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.
Allahabad High Court: In a bail application filed against a man for making an alleged objectionable comment on his Instagram account regarding the “I love Mohammed” controversy, the Single Judge Bench of Rajiv Lochan Shukla, J., allowed the application, holding that it was appropriate to enlarge him on bail as the alleged objectionable post did not name any caste or community.
Background
On 26 September 2025, violence erupted in Bareilly when a peaceful congregation turned into a mob of around 200—250 people who damaged property and attacked the police. This came to be known as the “I love Mohammed” controversy or the Bareilly Violence case.
In the present case, the accused was arrested under Sections 353(2), 192, and 152, Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), for allegedly writing objectionable comments on his Instagram account “I Love Mohammed ke liye gardan katwa bhi sakte hai aur kaat bhi sakte hain”, i.e. “For I Love Mohammed, we/I can get beheaded as well as behead others”.
Aggrieved, he filed the present bail application.
The State contended that such objectionable slogans had caused widespread riots in the District Bareilly, which led to serious damage to property and a dismal law and order situation.
Also Read: Allahabad HC denies relief to Bareilly Violence Case accused| SCC Times
Analysis and Decision
At the outset, the Court noted that the accused had been in jail since 7 October 2025 and did not have any criminal antecedents. On the merits, the Court noted that the alleged objectionable post made by the accused on his Instagram account did not name any caste or community.
Considering the aforesaid, material collected during the investigation and the role assigned to the accused, the Court granted bail, holding that it was appropriate to enlarge him on bail.
Accordingly, the Court directed the accused to be released on bail upon executing a personal bond and two reliable sureties each, in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned, subject to the following conditions:
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Not to tamper with evidence
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Not to indulge in criminal activity
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Not to pressurise/intimidate prosecution witness
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To appear on every date fixed by the Trial Court.
The Court further directed that the accused shall be released based on the computer-generated copy of the order downloaded from the official court website and verified by the counsel concerned, with the undertaking that the certified copy will be filed within 15 days. The Court further directed the trial court to send the release order to the jail concerned through the Bail Order Management System (BOMS) to ensure early release of the accused.
[Nadeem v. State of U.P., Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 40267 of 2025, decided on 4-5-2026]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the petitioner: Atul Kumar
For the respondent: Government Advocate
