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Nagpur violence: Eight VHP, Bajrang Dal workers surrender, granted bail

The arrests were made in connection with an FIR registered against several VHP and Bajrang Dal office-bearers for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during a protest on Monday.

It was alleged that during the protest, along with images of Aurangzeb, a piece of cloth bearing Muslim religious scriptures was damaged. (Source: PTI)

EIGHT WORKERS affiliated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal surrendered before the Kotwali police in Mahal Nagpur on Wednesday. Following their surrender, the police arrested them and produced them before the court, which granted them bail. They were arrested in connection with the FIR registered by Nagpur police against several office-bearers of the VHP and Bajrang Dal for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during a protest on Monday. The protest was staged to demand the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb.

As per the FIR, the VHP and Bajrang Dal workers named as accused were identified as Dr Ramchandra Dubey Maharaj, Amol Thakre, Govind Shende, Kamal Haryani, Lakhan Kuril, Sushil Chaurasiya, Rushabh Arkhel, Shubham Arkhel and Mukesh Barapatre, central Nagpur president. Of them, only Shende, in charge of Maharashtra and Goa, who is not in the city, did not surrender. His lawyer said he too will surrender once he reaches the city.

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As per the police, the eight accused were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class court. An official said the police did not seek police custody of the accused and sought that they be sent to magisterial custody. After they were granted magisterial custody, advocate Sanjay Balpande, representing the activists, filed a bail plea. The court then released them on bail on a cash deposit of Rs 3,000 each.

According to the FIR lodged at the Ganeshpeth police station, the organiser of the protest to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb, Rahul Narnaware (joint secretary, Bajrang Dal), had sought legal permission for the same. The protest was scheduled for 11:30 am on Monday. As per the FIR, the police had forbade VHP and Bajrang Dal activists to burn the effigy of the Mughal emperor, yet the workers violated the order. This was the first FIR registered by the police.
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Eight workers affiliated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal surrendered before the Kotwali Police in Mahal, Nagpur, on Wednesday. Following their surrender, the police arrested them and presented them before the court, where they were granted bail. The arrests were made in connection with an FIR registered against several VHP and Bajrang Dal office-bearers for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during a protest on Monday. The protest was staged to demand the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb.

According to the FIR, the accused workers were identified as Dr Ramchandra Dubey Maharaj, Amol Thakre, Govind Shende, Kamal Haryani, Lakhan Kuril, Sushil Chaurasiya, Rushabh Arkhel, Shubham Arkhel, and Mukesh Barapatre, the central Nagpur president. Of these, only Govind Shende, who oversees Maharashtra and Goa, did not surrender as he was not in the city. His lawyer stated that he would surrender upon his return.

Police officials said the eight accused were presented before the Judicial Magistrate First Class court. The police did not seek their custody and instead requested that they be placed under magisterial custody. Following this, advocate Sanjay Balpande, representing the activists, filed a bail plea, which was approved. The court granted bail to the eight workers upon a cash deposit of ₹3,000 each.

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According to the FIR registered at Ganeshpeth Police Station, Rahul Narnaware, the joint secretary of Bajrang Dal and the organizer of the protest, had sought legal permission for the demonstration, scheduled for 11:30 AM on Monday, March 17. The FIR stated that police had explicitly prohibited VHP and Bajrang Dal activists from burning an effigy, but they disregarded the order. As a result, an FIR was registered against those present for violating police directives.

This was the first FIR filed in the case. It was alleged that during the protest, along with images of Aurangzeb, a piece of cloth bearing Muslim religious scriptures was damaged. Videos of the incident went viral, prompting Muslim groups to protest and file a complaint with the police. However, tensions escalated, leading to violent clashes and law-and-order disturbances in Nagpur. Subsequently, five additional FIRs were registered against those involved in the unrest.

By Wednesday evening, police had arrested 19 individuals and identified six more suspects, officials confirmed.

Ankita Deshkar

Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement) Professional Background & Expertise Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express Experience: Started working in 2016 Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region. Key focus areas include: Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools. Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights. Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion. Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur. Education & Credentials Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes: MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University) Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University) Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights Recent Notable Coverage Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability: Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions. Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response. Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions. Signature Beat Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety. Contact & Follow X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com ... Read More

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