Saharanpur Caste Violence Case: HC Reserves Verdict on Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Ravan’s Plea

Saharanpur/Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has reserved its judgment on a petition filed by Bhim Army chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad, also known as Ravan, seeking quashing of four criminal cases registered against him in connection with the 2017 caste violence in Saharanpur. The order was passed by a single-judge bench of Justice Sameer Jain.

Background of the Case
On 8 May 2017, communal clashes erupted in Ramnagar, Saharanpur. Following the violence, complainant Sunil Kumar Gupta filed a report against unidentified individuals. During the investigation, 14 people were named as accused, including Chandrashekhar Ravan. Four separate FIRs were lodged in connection with acts of incitement, attempted murder, arson, and other serious offenses. The police completed their investigation and filed chargesheets in all four cases.

Petition by Chandrashekhar Ravan
Ravan’s advocate, Sushil Shukla, argued that as per Supreme Court directives, all complaints arising from a single incident should be consolidated into one trial. He contended that filing separate FIRs for the same event violates legal principles and results in fragmented proceedings.

State’s Stand
The state government’s counsel opposed the petition, stating that the four incidents were distinct, involving different complainants and locations. Therefore, separate trials for each case are justified and legally appropriate.

Current Status
The High Court has reserved its verdict, leaving open the question of whether the cases will proceed jointly or separately. The outcome will clarify whether Chandrashekhar Ravan will face multiple trials for the 2017 Saharanpur violence or a consolidated hearing.