New Delhi: Quashing the quashed the preventive detention of Mulla Afroz – the main accused in the 2024 Sambhal violence – under the National Security Act (NSA), the Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 29) imposed a cost of Rs 10 lakh on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Uttar Pradesh government for passing the illegal preventive detention order, reported LiveLaw.In its verdict, a bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta Sheel Nagu said that the Uttar Pradesh government couldn’t have passed orders on preventive detention based on a confession allegedly made by Afroz in police custody.The top court had reserved the order in the matter on September 8. While reserving the order, the bench had questioned that whether an alleged custodial confession can form the basis of the “subjective satisfaction” that was needed for passing a preventive detention order. The court had also questioned the relevance and value of the confession.Afroz, who was arrested more than 54 days after the violence, was granted bail by the Allahabad high court but a detention order under the NSA was passed against him on October 13, 2025, which the high court subsequently upheld. Thereafter, Afroz had moved Supreme Court with his plea for quashing the detention order.The petition told the top court that during the violence in Sambhal, that the police had themselves opened fire during the violence and that this aspect had not been fairly investigated. He also argued that his arrest was based on a confession made in police custody, which is inadmissible in law, reported LiveLaw.The Uttar Pradesh government had defended the detention order relying on the “likelihood” of the petitioner causing violence or affecting public order. The state had further contended that if the material available demonstrates such likelihood, it would be sufficient to justify preventive detention.While pronouncing the order on Tuesday, Justice Datta paid tribute to his law clerk who passed away before his 27th birthday and dedicated the judgment to him.A survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal was hurriedly carried out by a court-appointed advocate commissioner on November 19, 2024, less than three hours after a civil judge senior division passed the order. A second round of survey took place on November 24, but that was marred by large-scale violence.Five Muslims were killed during the violence, though official records acknowledged only four deaths: Mohammad Kaif, Naeem, Ayaan, and Bilal. Twenty-eight police personnel were injured, and several vehicles were torched or damaged during the clashes.