Court Orders Investigation After Bhopal Police Allegedly Parade, Shave Gangster

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The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered an investigation into allegations that police in Bhopal publicly paraded notorious gangster Zubair Maulana with a shaved head and face after his arrest. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, July 19, 2025, has sparked significant legal and ethical concerns, prompting the Jabalpur bench of the High Court to deem it a possible violation of fundamental and human rights. The court has directed the Human Rights Commission to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

Zubair Maulana, a well-known criminal with over 50 serious cases registered against him, including attempted murder and kidnapping, had been on the run for six months before his arrest on May 9. Following his apprehension along with three associates, images and reports emerged showing him being paraded through the city with his head, beard, and mustache reportedly shaved. His wife, Shamim Bano, subsequently filed a petition with the Madhya Pradesh High Court, alleging a clear violation of her husband’s fundamental rights under Articles 21, 22, and 25 of the Constitution. Her advocate, Prashant Chaurasia, argued that the act was not only dehumanizing but also intended to publicly shame Zubair without any legal basis, stating that police were only supposed to arrest him and present him in judicial custody.

Conversely, the police have maintained that Zubair Maulana shaved his head and beard to conceal his identity while he was evading arrest. This claim, however, has not allayed the concerns of the judiciary. Justice Vishal Mishra, who passed the order, clarified that while the court was not expressing an opinion on the merits of the criminal charges against Zubair, the manner in which an accused was paraded raised valid concerns.

The Human Rights Commission’s probe will now delve into the circumstances surrounding the alleged public parading and shaving. This incident underscores broader discussions about police conduct and the rights of individuals, even those accused of serious crimes. Human rights advocates consistently emphasize that law enforcement must adhere to due process and respect the dignity of every person, irrespective of their alleged offenses, until proven guilty in a court of law. The outcome of this investigation will be closely watched as it may set an important precedent for police accountability in similar situations.