A court in Punjab’s Malerkotla district sentenced AAP MLA Naresh Yadav from Delhi’s Mehrauli constituency to two years in prison on Saturday in connection with a 2016 Quran desecration case.
The verdict was pronounced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Parminder Singh Grewal, who convicted Yadav on Friday. Alongside the sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹11,000 on the MLA, who was present during the proceedings.
The court also upheld the two-year sentences of co-accused Vijay Kumar and Gaurav Kumar, while acquitting another accused, Nand Kishore, whose acquittal by a lower court was not overturned.
Yadav was convicted under IPC Sections 295A (outraging religious feelings), 153A (promoting enmity between groups), and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
The case dates back to June 24, 2016, when torn pages of the Quran were found scattered on a road in Malerkotla, sparking violent protests and the burning of vehicles. Initially, the police arrested Vijay, Gaurav, and Nand Kishore, later implicating Yadav as well.
Although Yadav was acquitted in March 2021 by a lower court, complainant Mohammad Ashraf appealed the decision, leading to the present conviction.