Allahabad High Court Grants Bail to 32 Convicts in 1990 Agra Caste Violence Case
Thirty-five years after the incident, in May this year, 32 people were sentenced to five years in jail for the violence that erupted during a Jatav wedding procession
Allahabad HC grants bail to 32 in 1990 Agra wedding procession caste violence case
The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to 31 individuals who were convicted earlier this year by a trial court in Agra in connection with an incident of caste-based violence that took place 35 years ago.
The case dates back to 1990 when violence broke out in the Kagaraul police station area of Agra district. On June 21, 1990, during a Jatav wedding procession after objections by members of the Jat community, violence took place. The clash left one person dead and caused heavy property damage, prompting curfew and police deployment. Based on a complaint, the police registered a case charging the accused under Sections 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 323/149 (voluntarily causing hurt with common object), 427/149 (mischief causing damage), and 504 (intentional insult) of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
After a protracted trial spanning nearly three decades, the Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Agra, convicted 36 people in the case. Of them, 32 convicted were sentenced them to five years’ imprisonment with fines of Rs. 41,000 each, with half the amount directed as compensation to Dalit families. The convicts, including Jaydev, Rajendra, Pappu, Tejveer Singh, and others, challenged this decision before the Allahabad High Court through a criminal appeal.
During the hearing, counsel for the appellants argued that the accused were innocent and had been falsely implicated. It was contended that the prosecution had examined 27 witnesses, but their testimonies were riddled with contradictions. The defence also pointed out that most of the appellants were over 65 years of age, suffering from various health conditions, and had no motive to commit the alleged offences. Further, they highlighted that the accused had been on bail throughout the trial and had never misused their liberty, yet had been taken into custody following their conviction on May 28, 2025. With no likelihood of the appeal being decided in the near future, the appellants sought suspension of their sentence.
The High Court also took note of the case of appellant Devi Singh, aged about 95 years, who had already been granted short-term bail on medical grounds by a separate order on August 4, 2025. He was not required to submit fresh bail bonds in the present order.
Opposing the bail plea, counsel for the informant and the Additional Government Advocate maintained that the trial court’s conviction was based on proper appreciation of evidence and should not be interfered with. They argued against granting relief to the convicts at this stage.
After considering the rival submissions and examining the trial court’s findings, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav observed that since the appellants had remained on bail during the trial without misuse of liberty, and given the fact that the appeal was unlikely to be heard soon, they deserved to be released on bail. Court, however, directed that 50 per cent of the fine imposed by the trial court must be deposited within 15 days of their release.
Accordingly, 31 appellants were ordered to be released on bail upon furnishing personal bonds and two sureties each to the satisfaction of the concerned court. In Devi Singh’s case, the court noted that his earlier bail order sufficed.
The appeal will be listed for hearing in due course, with the trial court records summoned for further proceedings.
Case Title: Jaydev And 31 Others vs. State of U.P. and Another
Order Date: August 28, 2025
Bench: Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav