Samajwadi Party MP Grilled For Three Hours By SIT Over Talks With Sambhal Mosque Committee Head Before Survey Violence

Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday (8 April) in connection with the 24 November 2024 Sambhal violence, where four people lost their lives and several police personnel were injured after an attack on a court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.

According to TOI report, Barq reached Nakhasa police station in Bareilly around 11:15 am, accompanied by a dozen lawyers. Before the interrogation, he addressed the media, asserting his respect for due process.

“Though I'm not well and the doctor has advised rest, I'm appearing before the SIT so that the police and administration do not think I'm not cooperating in the investigation,” he said.

The three-hour-long questioning focused on Barq’s alleged involvement in the violence and his communication with key accused individuals. Barq, a first-time MP, had previously stated he was in Bengaluru on the day of the violence and had no role in the incident.

SIT officials confirmed he submitted his boarding pass and was asked to provide additional details regarding his travel and his attendance at an AIMPLB meeting.

“The Sambhal MP appeared for questioning and has provided us with the boarding pass for his Bengaluru trip. We've asked him to provide more details related to that trip. Investigation is on, and we can't share more details as of now,” said SIT head and Circle Officer Kuldeep Kumar.

Barq was also questioned about the ‘Saansad Sambhal’ WhatsApp group, alleged to have been used to coordinate activities before the violence. “He said he is a public representative and so he was added to many such WhatsApp groups which he doesn't even check most of the time,” a SIT official revealed anonymously.

It was revealed during the investigation that many such groups were created ahead of the violence. The SIT has now asked him to submit detailed information about these social media groups.

He admitted to having spoken to Zafar Ali, the president of the Jama Masjid committee, the night before the violence, but claimed he was unaware of the planned survey on 24 November.

But AajTak sources revealed that Barq struggled to answer several questions regarding the conversation he had with Zafar Ali on 23 November, who has since been arrested. He was seen avoiding those questions in light of 'evidence' presented to him by the SIT.

“I was served a notice and I appeared for questioning. I was there to cooperate in every possible way and I've answered all their questions. I've full faith in our judicial system,” Barq said after the session.

The SIT is expected to summon the MP again as the investigation progresses.

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