Court acquittal three years on is cold comfort for Muslim man rebuilding life after demolition

In February 2021, a woman accused Shafiq Ansari, a 55-year-old former municipal councillor from Rajgarh district in Madhya Pradesh, of raping her in his home. Shortly after, in March, the police filed an FIR against him. He spent three months in jail. A year later, in March 2022, the Sarangpur municipality demolished Ansari’s home.

His son’s education was derailed and Ansari suffered immense humiliation.

Four years later, on February 14, an additional sessions judge in Rajgarh noted that there were significant inconsistencies in the testimonies of the woman and her husband. He acquitted Ansari.

“I kept telling the police to investigate them, but they ignored me,” Ansari said in a phone interview. “This happened because of police negligence.”

Ansari said that his two-storeyed, 4,000 sq feet home was demolished without prior notice. Despite having no criminal record, he was included in Madhya Pradesh’s “anti-goon” campaign. “Early in the morning, four-five JCBs arrived and bulldozed my house,” Ansari said, recalling the events of March 13. He lived in the house with seven members of his family. “We weren’t even allowed to take our belongings,” he said. “After the demolition, even the rubble and iron from my house were taken away.”

“Now, the case is over, but my home is gone,” he…

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