Lucknow. CO Sambhal Anuj Chaudhary, who was in the headlines for his statements, has got relief in the police investigation. The CO was accused of deliberately violating the Government Servant Conduct Rules in the peace committee meetings during Holi and Ramzan.
Former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur complained to IGRS and accused the CO of saying, ‘Holi comes only once a year and Friday is for 52 days and if he has to serve Eid sevaiya, he will have to eat Gujiya as well.’
He had demanded action after investigating other such statements. The investigation of the case was handed over to SP Law and Order Manoj Kumar Awasthi. The investigation did not find the CO guilty of violating the conduct rules. The DGP headquarters has submitted the report to the Home Department.
Violence took place on November 24
During the investigation, the CO had said in his statement that the atmosphere was sensitive after the violence in Sambhal during the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24, 2024. On March 6, 2025, a meeting of members of the peace committee, religious leaders, organizers of the procession, elite citizens of Hindu and Muslim religion was called in Sambhal Kotwali to conduct Holi and Jumme ki Namaz peacefully.
In the meeting, he appealed to the people of both the communities to conduct Holi and Jumme ki Namaz peacefully. No objectionable comment was made related to Jumme ki Namaz. Holi and Jumme ki Namaz were conducted peacefully in a peaceful atmosphere.
After this, an appeal was made to the people of both the communities in the peace committee meeting again to conduct the farewell prayers on March 28, 2025 and the festival of Eid on March 31, 2025 peacefully. Some people linked his appeal to a particular religion and circulated it in a wrong manner.
Statements of these people were also taken during the investigation
During the investigation, statements of Sambhal resident Jitendra Verma, Md. Yasin and others were also recorded. It was said in the statements that in order to maintain peace and order, it was said in the peace committee meeting that if any person avoids colours, then that person should stay in his house for some time and cooperate in maintaining law and order. The administration ensured that Holi and Jumme ki namaz were conducted peacefully. Alvida ki namaz and Eid festival were also conducted peacefully. No corroborative evidence came to light regarding the allegations.
