Indian prominent cleric Maulana Abdullah Salim Chaturvedi arrested, allegedly tortured

BIHAR: Indian cleric and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUI) leader Maulana Abdullah Salim Chaturvedi was allegedly tortured following his arrest by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), according to Indian media reports on Wednesday.

The STF detained him in Bihar based on intelligence inputs. The move comes after two FIRs were registered against Maulana Chaturvedi in Uttar Pradesh following protests by Hindu extremist organizations.

One FIR was filed on the complaint of Ravi Mishra of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while another was registered on the complaint of Ajit Pratap Singh, associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

The case relates to a speech delivered on May 5, 2024, during a “social reform and educational awareness conference” in Bihar.

In his speech, the cleric criticized the ban on cow meat in India and drew comparisons between punishments for rape and possession of cow meat. He claimed that penalties for sexual assault are less severe, while strict “shoot-at-sight” measures are reportedly applied in cases involving cow meat.

After being brought to Uttar Pradesh, Salim was produced before a local court, which remanded him to judicial custody. He was later sent to jail on Tuesday.

During his court appearance, videos circulating on social media appeared to show him walking with difficulty, with users alleging signs of brutal torture. However, these claims have not been independently verified.

In a video statement recorded after his detention, the cleric issued an apology.

Meanwhile, local leaders of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind have urged JUI-H president Maulana Syed Mahmood Asad Madani to provide immediate legal assistance and raise their voice over his arrest.

In a joint statement, district officials said that Maulana Abdullah Salim is a respected religious scholar and that parts of his speech were taken out of context, leading to misunderstanding despite his clarification and apology.

Separately, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) also expressed support. Party spokesperson Aadil Hasan condemned the arrest, stating that the action by Uttar Pradesh Police under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was unjustified and that the party stands firmly with the cleric.

The way Uttar Pradesh Police, under Yogi Adityanath, has reportedly arrested Abdullah Salim Chaturvedi and taken him to Uttar Pradesh is being strongly condemned.

It is being said that the Maulana did not make any wrongful statement. The entire team of AIMIM stands firmly in… pic.twitter.com/FzHTFtNQAI

— Team Rising Falcon (@TheRFTeam) March 31, 2026