The Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday gave a clean chit to Sambhal Circle Officer Anuj Kumar Choudhary, who sparked widespread condemnation after he stated, “If Muslims cannot accept being colored during Holi, they should stay at home,” following a Peace Committee Meeting held ahead of Holi and Jumua falling on the same day this year.
The report, dated April 16, prepared by Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) Manoj Kumar Awasthi, concluded that “no credible evidence was found to support the complainant’s allegations.”
Amitabh Thakur, a retired 1992-batch IPS officer, lodged a complaint with the state police against him, accusing him of violating service and uniform conduct regulations shortly after the remarks were made.
Following the complaint, the IG (Law and Order) directed the SP (Law and Order) to investigate, and the inquiry was subsequently conducted by Sambhal’s ASP, Shreeshchandra.
As part of the investigation, the ASP collected statements from individuals present at the Peace Committee meeting where the CO made the remarks. Additionally, statements were recorded from Jitendra Verma, President of the Jan Kalyan Samiti, and Yaseen from Asmoli village, both of whom supported the CO’s statement.
The remark has sparked widespread criticism. Leaders like Congress MP Imran Masood criticized the “language and tone” as inappropriate, arguing that it could be interpreted as discriminatory toward the Muslim community.
In another instance, Choudhary was also filmed walking in police uniform during the Kishkindha Rath Yatra in Sambhal’s Khaggu Saray area, carrying a mace (a religious symbol) and leading the procession while chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ were heard, raising concerns about the appropriateness of a police officer in uniform participating in a religious event.
