Zafar Ali, the president of the Shahi Jama Masjid committee, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the violence that erupted in November last year over a court-ordered survey of the mosque, police officials confirmed. The arrest comes amid allegations that it was timed to prevent Ali from testifying before a judicial commission investigating the incident.

The violence, which occurred on November 24, left four people dead and several injured. The Mughal-era mosque has been at the center of a contentious dispute following a petition claiming it was built on the site of an ancient Hindu temple.

Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi stated that Zafar Ali was arrested in connection with the November 24 violence case but did not provide further details. Earlier in the day, Sambhal Kotwali in-charge Anuj Kumar Tomar confirmed that Ali had been taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to record his statement.

However, Ali’s elder brother, Tahir Ali, alleged that the arrest was a deliberate attempt to prevent Zafar from testifying before a three-member judicial commission appointed by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe the violence. “Zafar was supposed to testify before the commission tomorrow, and that is why they are deliberately sending him to jail,” Tahir Ali told reporters.

Tahir Ali claimed that Zafar had already publicly stated his version of events during a press conference and would not retract his statements. “He had clearly said that the police fired shots, and those who died were killed by police bullets,” Tahir said.

Before being taken into custody, Zafar Ali reportedly told his brother, “No problem, I am ready to go to jail. I will not back down from the truth.”

Tahir Ali also dismissed allegations of external funding in the case, asserting, “Not a single penny has been received. We will fight this case in court and emerge victorious.” He accused the Sambhal administration of deliberately inciting public unrest, claiming that local authorities were provoking discord instead of working to restore peace.

Tahir Ali revealed that Zafar Ali, along with Masood Farooqui and Qasim Advocate, was scheduled to submit testimony before the judicial commission on Monday. The arrest has raised questions about the timing and motives behind the detention, with critics alleging it was aimed at silencing key witnesses.

The Shahi Jama Masjid has been embroiled in controversy since a petition alleged it was constructed on the site of an ancient Hindu temple. The court-ordered survey of the mosque sparked protests and clashes, leading to the November violence. The judicial commission was formed to investigate the incident and determine the causes and culpability.

Sahibzada Farhan made history on March 21 by scoring the highest individual score by a Pakistani batter in T20 cricket, smashing 162 runs off 72 balls for Peshawar Region in a National T20 Cup match against Quetta Region at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The 29-year-old opener broke the eight-year-old record previously held by Kamran Akmal, who had scored 150 off 71 balls in 2017 for Lahore Whites.

Farhan’s explosive innings featured 14 fours and 11 sixes, and now stands as the joint third-highest individual score in T20 history, tied with Hamilton Masakadza of Zimbabwe and Hazratullah Zazai of Afghanistan. The all-time record remains with Chris Gayle, who scored 175 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru*.

Dominant win for Peshawar

Farhan’s record-breaking knock propelled Peshawar to a mammoth 239/1 after being put in to bat. After an early setback with Waqar Ahmed’s dismissal, Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat stabilized the innings. Sadaqat retired hurt after scoring 54 off 38 balls, but Farhan continued his onslaught to guide Peshawar to a massive total.

In reply, Quetta Region crumbled for just 113 in 19.3 overs. Off-spinner Usman Tariq played a key role in the collapse, returning with 4 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs. However, it was Farhan’s knock that sealed the 126-run victory and earned him the Player of the Match award.

Farhan’s performance is now being hailed as one of the finest ever by a Pakistani batter in the shortest format, adding a major milestone to his cricketing journey.

The Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Raichur, Karnataka, has received an impressive Rs 3,48,69,621 in cash, along with 32 grams of gold and 1.24 kilograms of silver, as donations made by devotees during the recent birth anniversary celebrations of 16th-century saint Raghavendra Swamy.

A video that has gone viral shows more than a hundred priests meticulously counting the offerings — a rare and visually striking sight that has drawn attention across social media.

The contributions were collected over a 30-day period, during which lakhs of devotees visited the temple to pay homage to the revered saint. The mutt is considered a major religious destination for followers of Raghavendra Swamy, who is widely respected in South India for his spiritual teachings and legacy.

Notable past visitors

Last year, the temple also received attention when former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Bengaluru. They were accompanied by Akshata’s parents, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy, and were seen participating in traditional rituals including aarti at the mutt.