Islamic scholar’s arrest by UP police sparks outrage over illegal procedures, custodial abuse
New Delhi: The arrest of prominent Islamic scholar Maulana Abdullah Salim Chaturvedi by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has triggered a political and legal controversy, amid reports of illegal procedures, custodial violence, and serious human rights violations.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the scholar was arrested on March 31 from Dalmalpur area of Purnia district in Bihar in connection with two FIRs registered in Uttar Pradesh over a two-year-old video. The cases were reportedly lodged in Bahraich and Balrampur districts.
All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Bihar president and MLA Akhtarul Iman has raised strong objections to the manner of arrest, terming it unlawful and excessive. In letters addressed to the Bihar Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister (Home), Bihar State Minority Commission, and State Human Rights Commission, he said that the UP STF carried out the operation in plain clothes and at gunpoint without informing the Bihar police or obtaining a transit remand.
He said the way the scholar was apprehended created an impression as if he were a “terrorist or involved in sedition,” and questioned the legality of transferring him to another state without due process. He further said that the case was based on a “two-year-old doctored video”.
Iman also drew a comparison to past incidents involving Hindu figures like Yati Narsinghanand and Shankar Sharma, who used derogatory language against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “The police did not show the same promptness as they have here,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has also expressed concern over the incident, stressing the need to uphold the rule of law and human dignity. In a statement, the organization said every individual is entitled to due process and protection from torture, harassment, and mistreatment. The organization called for an independent and impartial probe into the allegations of custodial excesses, warning that any deviation from legal procedures undermines public confidence in institutions.
In a separate complaint to the Bihar State Human Rights Commission, Akhtarul Iman termed the treatment of the scholar as “barbaric and inhumane.” He cited visuals circulating on social media, indicating that the scholar was subjected to physical torture while in custody.
Muslim leaders have also underscored that Maulana Chaturvedi is known for advocating interfaith harmony and is well-versed in Islamic as well as Vedic teachings.
