Bareilly violence: Maulana Tauqeer Raza served recovery notice for 35-year-old loan
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Bareilly cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, currently lodged in Fatehgarh Jail, has received a fresh notice from the Badaun District Cooperative Bank for defaulting on a 35-year-old agricultural loan.
The 65-year-old president of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) was arrested nearly two weeks ago in connection with violent clashes in Bareilly on September 26.
The bank issued the recovery notice after Khan allegedly failed to repay a short-term crop loan of Rs 5,055, taken on October 29, 1990. According to bank chairman Jitendra Kumar Saxena, the outstanding amount, including interest, has now risen to Rs 28,346.
The notice was issued by the Multi-Purpose Primary Rural Cooperative Society (PACS) Limited, through which the loan was originally disbursed.
Saxena stated that Khan’s account had been classified as a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) and that, according to the notice, he had been directed to immediately deposit the outstanding amount along with interest within 15 days of receiving the letter. He added that failure to do so would result in recovery proceedings being initiated against him.
He further clarified that the recovery would be carried out as arrears of land revenue, making Khan personally liable for any coercive action under the prescribed rules. Khan’s family property is located in Badaun’s Kartoli village. The notice is being sent to him at Fatehgarh Jail through the jail superintendent, with another copy directed to Harish Chander, Deputy Inspector General of Kanpur Range.
Meanwhile, police have intensified investigations into Khan’s role in the September 26 violence, in which he is now booked in 10 out of 12 cases. SSP Anurag Arya said a warrant had also been sought against him in a 2019 case related to protests over the CAA/NRC. Superintendent of Police Manush Pareek added that authorities are expediting investigations into other pending cases against Khan.
The violence erupted after police prevented a group carrying ‘I Love Muhammad’ placards from assembling post-Friday prayers.
Protests escalated as police attempted to disperse the crowd, with some reportedly pelting stones, raising slogans, and opening fire at law enforcement. The unrest followed earlier incidents in August, when Kanpur Police booked nine individuals over religious posters and a lightboard for the Barawafat procession commemorating the Prophet’s birth.
Authorities also carried out sealing and demolition drives against Khan’s associates, several of whom have been arrested. Officials maintained that these actions were routine and not directly linked to the September clashes. Police have identified around 40 members of the IMC as involved in the violence.