A police report about the March 17 Nagpur violence says Fahim Shamim Khan gathered a group of people in at least two places before the riots started. He was arrested on Tuesday night and will stay in police custody until March 21.
The police report, shared exclusively with CNN-News18, says Fahim Khan is the main suspect in the violence. He first asked people to gather near a police station, then near a mosque in the Mahal area of Nagpur, where the riots started. The police are looking into his role in the clashes.
The report also says Khan’s group had earlier submitted a petition at Ganeshpeth Police Station, asking for legal action against Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists after a protest. This later led to the violence.
Videos from March 17 show rioters shouting slogans in support of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, calling him ‘Alamgir Hazrat.’ Fahim Khan is accused of encouraging people, inciting violence, and spreading rumors about a holy book being damaged.
In an another incident, a man accused of taking part in the violence in the old city area of Maharashtra’s Nagpur Monday allegedly inappropriately touched an on-duty woman police officer, according to the First Information Report (FIR) that was filed at an area police station in connection with the violence.
Who Is Fahim Khan?
Fahim Khan, 38, is a member of the Minorities Democratic Party in Nagpur. He ran in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Nagpur against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari but did not win. Now he’s accused of being the mastermind of the Nagpur Riots.
Nagpur Violence: FIR Details
The police report says that members of Bajrang Dal and VHP protested to demand the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb and burned an effigy of him on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birthday.
To stop the protesters, a group of about 60 people gathered at a police station, led by Fahim Khan.
Also Read: Nagpur Police: Violence Accused Molested Woman Cop, Attempted To Tear Her Clothes On March 17
