The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the National Security Act (NSA) detention of Mulla Afroz, accused of being the alleged mastermind of the 2024 Sambhal violence [Mulla Afroz v. Union of India & Ors.].

A Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu held that an alleged confessional statement cannot be the sole ground for preventive detention.

"Confessional statement cannot be the sole ground for detention, surrounding circumstances have to be looked into," said the Court.

The Court found that the detaining authority had failed to take into consideration appropriate material before passing the detention order.

“In fact, whatever has been said by the detaining authority has been discussed to hold that the power of detention has been illegally exercised,” it said.

The Court accordingly allowed Afroz's appeal and quashed the detention order, the confirmation order and the Allahabad High Court judgment upholding his detention.

Additionally, it also imposed costs of ₹10 lakh on the State of Uttar Pradesh.

The case arose from the violence that broke out in Sambhal in November 2024, following a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Four people were killed in the violence. Afroz was arrested around 54 days after the incident and was subsequently granted bail by the Allahabad High Court.

The Sambhal District Magistrate, however, passed an order on October 13, 2025 directing Afroz's preventive detention under Section 3 of the NSA.

The order was subsequently upheld by the Allahabad High Court, following which Afroz approached the Supreme Court.

Before the Supreme Court, Afroz challenged the material relied upon for his detention, including an alleged confessional statement made in police custody. The Court questioned the State on whether such a confession could form the basis of the detaining authority's satisfaction under the NSA.

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