New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police has booked Samajwadi Party leader Haji Mohammad Usman under sections related to creating public nuisance and blocking roads after a video purportedly showed him offering namaz behind his car parked on the “entry/exit passage” of the Moradabad Circuit House.
The opposition party’s Moradabad district vice president rejected the charge that he was blocking anyone’s path. “(I was offering namaz) behind cars in the parking lot. Offering namaz is not a matter of shame, but of pride. I am not afraid of legal proceedings,” he told ThePrint.
The widely shared video purportedly shows him offering namaz behind his vehicle parked inside the Circuit House on 3 September.
An FIR was registered Saturday at the Majhola police station based on a complaint by a Circuit House officer who told the police Usman’s act caused an “obstruction to the movement of vehicles and people”.
Usman had gone to the Circuit House to attend a meeting called by Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council Leader of Opposition Lal Bihari Yadav on September 3. Leaders from other opposition parties were also at the venue.
“For the stay of the Honorable Leader (Lal Bihari Yadav), Gomti Room, Room No. 03, and Room No. 08 were reserved at Circuit House Moradabad from 03.09.2026 to 04.09.2026. On 03.09.2026, the Honorable Leader held a meeting in the meeting hall of Circuit House Moradabad, which was attended by a large number of people,” read the FIR, accessed by ThePrint.
It then details where Usman offered the Namaz.
“A video is rapidly circulating on social media in which Shri Haji Mohammad Usman is seen offering Namaz behind his vehicle, which was parked on the entry/exit passage of the Circuit House. This caused an obstruction to the movement of vehicles and people. Therefore, I have come to the police station to report this matter. Please take necessary action,” said the FIR filed by the junior engineer.
Subsequently, an FIR was registered after the police took cognisance of the complaint, according to SP City Moradabad Kumar Ranvijay Singh.
“A Junior Engineer from the circuit house approached the police and alleged that Usman had obstructed the way of other visitors to the circuit house after a purported video of the accused came to their knowledge. Following the complaint filed by the official, an FIR under BNS sections 285 (Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) and 292 (Punishment for public nuisance) has been lodged. Further probe is on,” said Singh.
Speaking to ThePrint over a call, Usman said that offering prayer is no crime. “Saraswati Vandana is performed in schools, and Bhoomi Pujan is conducted before government construction projects. In such a situation, filing an FIR or raising questions only about namaz is discrimination,” he said.
He further said that even in the video, he is seen offering prayers behind the cars and not in front of them to block anyone’s path.
“I can be seen offering namaz behind cars in the parking lot; I am not blocking anyone’s path. If any law has been violated, there should be an impartial investigation. However, the case registered over offering namaz should be dismissed. The Constitution holds our right,” he said.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)