On Tuesday, the Supreme Court criticized the UP government by asking, "Why is your investigating officer running away from this court?" This is in response to an affidavit filed by the police in a hate crime case that took place in 2021 in Noida.

Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta mentioned that charges under Section 153B of the IPC were not included in the FIR, despite clear instructions from the court. KM Nataraj, the Additional Solicitor General for the UP police and UP government, argued that they are seeking permission to investigate further.

The victim's lawyer argued that despite this court's clear instructions, the police removed Section 153B from the FIR registered in 2023. During the hearing, the Supreme Court sharply criticized the police's actions, stating that Section 153B of the IPC punishes imputations or statements that promote or are likely to promote enmity or hatred between different religious, racial, linguistic, regional groups, or castes prejudicial to national integration. The court clarified that it was willing to summon the investigating officer.

However, at the request of ASG KM Nataraj, the court granted two weeks' additional time to ensure full compliance with the February 16, 2026, order and directed the case to be listed for rehearing on May 19.

This entire matter is related to a petition filed by Muslim cleric Qazim Ahmed Sherwani, which the Supreme Court is hearing. The petition cites an incident in Noida in 2021 in which some individuals are accused of committing a hate crime based on his religious identity. Sherwani alleges that his beard was pulled, his cap was removed, and he was insulted with religiously abusive language.