Court cancels National Security Act detention and grants bail to Mulla Afroz; Allahabad High Court order upholding NSA also set asideNew Delhi.
The Supreme Court has granted major relief to Mulla Afroz, described in the source as a key accused in the Sambhal violence case. The court quashed the National Security Act (NSA) order imposed on him and allowed his bail plea. The court also imposed a ₹10 lakh fine on the Uttar Pradesh government, according to the provided source.The Supreme Court reportedly held that the NSA had been imposed on Mulla Afroz unlawfully and set aside the Allahabad High Court judgment that had upheld the detention order.The case relates to the violence that broke out in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, in November 2024, during a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Mulla Afroz was accused of being a key conspirator in the violence.NSA Imposed After BailAccording to the source, Mulla Afroz was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court, but the Uttar Pradesh government subsequently invoked the NSA against him in October 2025 and arrested him again.He challenged the detention before the Supreme Court.During the hearing, the Supreme Court reportedly questioned whether a statement allegedly made while in police custody—which would not ordinarily be admissible as evidence in court—could be relied upon as a basis for preventive detention under the NSA.UP Government Defended Preventive DetentionThe Uttar Pradesh government defended its decision, arguing that Mulla Afroz's release could create a serious risk of renewed violence and disruption of public order in the area.The government maintained that preventive detention was necessary to maintain law and order.However, according to the provided source, the Supreme Court rejected the government's argument and concluded that the procedure used to invoke the NSA was unlawful and amounted to misuse of the preventive-detention law.The court therefore quashed the NSA detention, set aside the Allahabad High Court's order and granted relief to Mulla Afroz.
