The Allahabad High Court has denied anticipatory bail to a teacher accused of inciting her students to assault a Muslim classmate in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. The case has drawn nationwide attention following the circulation of a viral video capturing the troubling incident.
The accused, identified as Tripta Tyagi, was directed by Justice Deepak Verma to surrender before the relevant lower court within two weeks. While rejecting her plea for pre-arrest bail, the court offered temporary protection, stating that no coercive action would be taken against her during this period or until she voluntarily surrenders.
The court emphasized that upon her surrender, any regular bail application should be handled promptly in line with legal precedents.
Tyagi’s actions, as shown in the video, reportedly involved encouraging her students to slap their Muslim classmate, accompanied by derogatory remarks about the child’s religion. The incident triggered widespread outrage, leading to the school’s closure and a national debate on communal tensions in educational spaces.
In her defense, Tyagi denied any communal intent in a subsequent video, conceding only that she had erred in judgment. Her counsel argued that the allegations were baseless and politically motivated, pointing out that the charges carried a maximum penalty of three years.
The State, however, firmly opposed the bail plea, underscoring the gravity of the incident and its societal implications.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is also handling a related plea, filed by Tushar Gandhi, advocating for an independent investigation and measures to safeguard minority students from violence.
The Muzaffarnagar case has become emblematic of broader concerns about the safety and inclusivity of educational environments, prompting judicial scrutiny and public introspection alike.
