Allahabad High Court Grants Bail To Two Men Booked Over Chanting 'Hanuman Chalisa' Outside Mosque

The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to two men who were accused of promoting enmity and hatred among different communities by chanting 'Hanuman Chalisa' outside a mosque in Meerut.

The Court was considering a Bail Application filed in a case registered under Sections 191(2), 196, 197 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Bench of Justice Raj Beer Singh observed, "In the instant matter, considering submissions of learned counsel for the parties, nature of accusations, period of detention and all attending facts and circumstances of the case, without expressing any opinion on the merits, a case for bail is made out. According bail application is allowed."

The Applicant was represented by Advocate Ayush Kaushik, while the Respondent was represented by Government Advocate Syed Shahnawaz Shah.

Counsel for the Applicants argued that Applicants are innocent and they have been falsely implicated in the case for they are political persons. It was submitted that the allegations levelled against the Applicants are wholly false there is no credible evidence against the Applicants. It was submitted that in case Applicants are granted bail, they shall not misuse the liberty of bail and would cooperate during trial. 

The Court, at the outset, noted that it is well settled that at pre-conviction stage, there is presumption of innocence and the object of keeping a person in custody is to ensure his availability to face the trial and to receive the sentence that may be passed.

Referring to Supreme Court's decision in Vinod Bhandari V State of M.P. (2015), the Court observed that the detention is not supposed to be punitive or preventive and seriousness of the allegation or the availability of material in support thereof are not the only considerations for declining bail.

The Bail Application was accordingly allowed.

Cause Title: Sachin Sirohi And Another vs. State of U.P. (2025:AHC:94661)

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