NEW DELHI (Friday, March 6, 2026) — A Delhi Sessions Court has granted bail to Shahnawaz Alam, the final accused person remaining in judicial custody in connection with the stone-pelting incident that occurred during a demolition drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque in Turkman Gate this past January.
The Ruling: Principle of Parity
Additional Sessions Judge Bhupinder Singh allowed the bail application, emphasizing that the legal principle of parity must apply.
- The Order: In the ruling dated February 28, the court noted that there were no distinguishing circumstances between Alam’s role and that of the 19 other accused who had already been granted bail earlier in the month.
- Conditions: Alam was released on a personal bond of ₹50,000 with one surety of a similar amount.
- Judicial Observation: The court observed that since the investigation against the co-accused was at a similar stage and they had been granted relief, keeping the last accused in custody would be inconsistent with judicial fairness.
Context: The Turkman Gate Incident
The violence erupted in mid-January 2026 during a demolition exercise conducted by civic authorities near the historic Turkman Gate area.
| Event Detail | Description |
| Location | Vicinity of Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque, Turkman Gate, Old Delhi. |
| Trigger | Resistance to a demolition drive against alleged unauthorized structures. |
| The Violence | A minor scuffle escalated into heavy stone-pelting, resulting in injuries to several police personnel and municipal workers. |
| Legal Action | Delhi Police registered an FIR under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rioting, obstructing public servants, and damaging public property. |
Current Status of the Case
With Shahnawaz Alam’s release, all 20 individuals arrested in the immediate aftermath of the January riots are now out on bail. However, the Delhi Police are continuing their technical investigation, using CCTV footage and facial recognition to identify other “instigators” who may have fled the scene during the initial crackdown.
Sources
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Turkman Gate violence: Delhi court grants bail to last accused in judicial custody” (March 6, 2026)
- The Indian Express: “Old Delhi Demolition Violence: Final accused gets bail on parity” (March 6, 2026)
- Bar and Bench: “Delhi Court grants bail to 20th accused in Turkman Gate stone-pelting case” (March 5, 2026)
- Millat Times: “Relief for Turkman Gate residents as last youth in custody gets bail” (March 6, 2026)
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