Wed Mar 12 15:13:28 UTC 2025: ## Uttarakhand High Court Grants Default Bail to 22 Accused in Haldwani Violence Case

**Dehradun, March 12, 2025** – The Uttarakhand High Court granted default bail to 22 individuals accused in the Banbhoolpura violence that followed the demolition of a madrasa and mosque in Haldwani last February. The violence resulted in five deaths and over 100 injuries, leading to a 12-day curfew in the affected area. Over 100 people, including women, were arrested and charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), along with other offenses like attempt to murder and rioting.

The High Court’s decision cites the police’s failure to file a chargesheet within the stipulated timeframe. A Division Bench deemed the extension of the accused’s remand unjustified and criticized the magistrate court’s order extending the chargesheet deadline as “against the rules.” This follows a similar August 2024 ruling where the court granted bail to over 50 accused, citing the Haldwani police’s “sluggish” investigation. The petitioners argued successfully that the lower court failed to provide a valid reason for extending their custody and the chargesheet filing deadline.

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