The Supreme Court has allowed Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, accused of orchestrating a religious mass conversion, to travel beyond the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) to Muzaffarnagar to attend three of his grandchildren/great grandchildren’s weddings.

The bench, however, restrained Siddiqui from participating in any political or social activity, apart from the marriage rituals and ceremonies, and further restricted him from making any public speeches.

Pertinently, in August, the Court had granted a one-time modification of his bail condition restricting him to leave NCT to attend his brother's funeral.

Accordingly, a bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Augustine George Masih while allowing the application, observed, “Considering these special circumstances, we allow this application in terms of prayer “(a)” of the application. The applicant shall be permitted to enter Uttar Pradesh and to to his 3 native Village Fulat (Phulat) for the purpose of attending the weddings of three of his grand children/great grand child, subject to the following conditions”.

In the conditions, the bench noted, “He shall be entitled to enter Uttar Pradesh for the said purpose on the dates specified in prayer “(a)” of the application. On completion of the said three and four days in two tranches, as contained in prayer “(a)” of the application, he shall return to his present place of residence in Delhi. While in his native village, he shall not participate in any political or social activities apart from attending or participating in the marriages rituals and ceremonies at Super Farm, in front of Golden Heart School, Budhana Road, Khatauli. He shall not deliver any public speech while remaining in his native village”.

AAG Garima Prashad appeared for the State and Senior Advocate Jitendra Mohan Sharma appeared for Maulvi.

The application was filed seeking temporary relaxation of certain conditions on his bail imposed by the Court by its order dated May 9, 2023.

Siddqui’s (respondent-applicant) in his prayer sought permission for him to leave the NCT to enable him to travel to his native village for a duration of three days i.e. from December 1, 2023 to December 3, 2023 and again for a duration of four days i.e. from December 29, 2023 to January 1, 2024.

The interim order imposed certain conditions in addition to what was imposed by the High Court while enlarging him on bail. The condition was that during the period he remained enlarged on bail, he was restricted from leaving the National Capital Territory of Delhi except for the purpose of attending the trial or for the purpose of meeting the investigating officer.

The said order had further specified that to seek permission, he was to give prior intimation to the ACP, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

It is also to be noted that the present interlocutory application was mentioned at the first sitting of the Court and considering the urgency pleaded on behalf of the applicant, was taken up after completion of the regular list treating it to be on that day’s Board.

Cause Title: The State Of Uttar Pradesh Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui

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