India Supreme Court rejects Uttarakhand attempt to cancel bail in Haldwani violence case

The Supreme Court dismissed the Uttarakhand government's special leave petition seeking to overturn the bail granted to Abdul Malik, accused in the February 2024 Banbhoolpura violence in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.

The three‑judge bench—Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana—held that the matter concerned personal liberty and that the High Court’s order could not be interfered with, even if its reasoning was deficient. The court expressed serious doubt about applying the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to the incident, questioning whether arson at a police station automatically triggers anti‑terror provisions.

The Uttarakhand High Court had granted bail on 16 April 2026, noting that Malik was not present at the scene. The Supreme Court observed that, if the allegations were as grave as claimed, the state should have secured a conviction within two years, underscoring limits on using UAPA for public‑order clashes.