SC pulls up UP police for not including hate crime charges in 2021 Muslim abuse case

The Supreme Court pulled up the Uttar Pradesh Police for going back on its assurance to include hate speech provisions in relation to the 2021 incident. The bench noted UP's earlier statement that the relevant hate crime provisions had been added and questioned why section 153B could not be included. ASG Nataraj said the matter would be examined and that the court is bound by its earlier statement. The bench refrained from summoning the IO but indicated it may if compliance is lacking and directed full compliance with the February 16, 2026 order, including bringing a copy of the supplementary charge sheet to the trial court, with the matter posted for May 19 and a two-week window for compliance.

Pursuant to the February 16 order, the state moved for further investigation and obtained an order from the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gautam Buddh Nagar on March 25.

The bench referred to its earlier order of February 16 in which ASG KM Nataraj had said that offences punishable under sections 153B and 295A of the IPC were made out from Sherwani’s complaint.

The Uttar Pradesh Police registered the FIR in January 2023 for criminal intimidation and causing hurt and claimed that the complainant (Sherwani) was targeted by the accused who operated as a gang and picked up persons with the intention to loot them.

Sherwani, a resident of Delhi, was accosted by a group of men in Noida who offered him a lift, abused him and pulled his beard, an incident later referenced in court proceedings.