Sambhal Mosque Chief Zafar Ali Detained Over Violence Incitement Charges

Police Detained Zafar Ali head of Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal : Violence broke out during the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, in this case UP Police has taken major action. Shahi Jama Masjid's head Zafar Ali has been detained by Sambhal Police on charges of inciting violence.

Police took Jama Masjid chief Zafar Ali into custody
Violence broke out in Sambhal on November 24, 2024 last year. Shahi Jama Masjid's Sadar Zafar Ali was called to the police station for questioning. The SIT investigating the case called Jama Masjid Sadar Zafar Ali to the police station, he was questioned and after the interrogation, Zafar Ali was taken into custody.

Painting work completed in Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal
The painting work was completed at the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal last Friday (March 21, 2025). It started earlier this week after the court order. Masood Farooqui, secretary of the Jama Masjid Committee, said that the painting work has been completed and the lighting work is going on, which is expected to be completed today. He said, 'The High Court had given a deadline of one week for this and we are confident that the work will be completed within the stipulated time.'

Sambhal Mosque Chief detained
The work is being carried out since Sunday under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) following the direction of the Allahabad High Court. The mosque management had earlier sought permission for whitewashing around the structure and additional lighting. The whitewashing has been done on the Mughal-era mosque at a time when a legal dispute is going on over it. A petition claimed that the mosque was built over an ancient Hindu temple. Riots broke out in Sambhal in November last year after a local court ordered an ASI survey of the mosque.

Four people were killed and several policemen were injured in the violence that broke out during the survey. On March 12, the Allahabad High Court directed the ASI to complete the whitewashing of the outer walls of the mosque within a week.