# Indian Police File FIR Against Politician Over Offering Namaz

> Indian police have filed an FIR against Samajwadi Party leader Haji Mohammad Usman for allegedly offering namaz on a road at a government circuit house in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. He faces charges related to public obs…

Published: 2026-09-06 · Desk: Latest · Source: Dhaka Tribune

Indian police have filed a first information report (FIR) against Samajwadi Party leader Haji Mohammad Usman for allegedly offering namaz on a road at a government circuit house in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh.

The FIR was registered under Sections 285 and 292 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relate to obstruction of public ways and public nuisance. Usman, the Samajwadi Party’s district vice-president, is also the uncle of Bilari MLA Mohammad Faheem Irfan, according to The Wire.

A video widely circulated on social media shows Usman offering prayers behind a parked car at the circuit house. He had reportedly visited the premises to attend a meeting between Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition Lal Bihari Yadav and Samajwadi Party leaders.

The case followed a complaint from Anit Kumar, an assistant engineer with the Public Works Department’s provincial division in Moradabad. Kumar alleged that Usman parked his vehicle on a route used by people and vehicles entering and leaving the circuit house before offering prayers behind it, causing an obstruction.

However, the video cited in the report does not appear to show anyone being blocked by the prayers. The people and vehicles visible in the footage are not seen passing through the area at the time.

The incident has drawn criticism from local Hindutva groups, with members questioning why prayers were allowed at a government facility, Dainik Bhaskar reported.

While offering prayers at government premises is not inherently illegal, the Uttar Pradesh government has criminalized offering namaz on roads.

The police action has also sparked comparisons with the Kanwar Yatra, during which widely circulated videos have shown participants allegedly blocking roads and engaging in vandalism and other misconduct.

The sections invoked in Usman’s FIR carry penalties for public obstruction and nuisance, though whether an actual obstruction occurred in this case remains disputed.

Original reporting: https://www.dhakatribune.com/world/asia/419165/indian-police-file-fir-against-politician-over?fbclid=IwY2xjawUJ0utwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMVU4VWVDZGJnUWkxSGlxV0VzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEek31GdqVnYN6Twdo70VMN85kqqWsxErUk7dVw5-nVmkEk-s8Z12y8-FOYt90_aem_bnAM-GFB3MV1vzeGvEW4cQ
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