Court in Nagpur seeks government response on bail

A court in Nagpur has ordered the Maharashtra government to respond to the bail request of Fahim Shamim Khan, who is accused of inciting recent violence in the city. Khan is 38 years old and is the city president of the Minority Democratic Party. During the court session, Khan declared his innocence. He claims that he has been falsely accused due to political pressure. His lawyer, Ashwin Ingole, argued that Khan respects the law and should be released on bail. The state was represented by district government pleader Nitin Telgote, who acknowledged the court's notice. Khan was arrested on March 18, after the Ganeshpeth police filed a case against him, charging him with sedition and other serious crimes. The court has set April 1 as the deadline for the government's response. Khan is currently in police custody. Notably, he is also a burqa seller and is the son of a cycle repair shop owner. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he ran against Union minister Nitin Gadkari and received 1,000 votes.