HC reserves verdict in Gwalior Ambedkar poster burning case:Marathon seven-and-a-half-hour hearing ends, all sides heard, court likely to pronounce decision on Jan 6

The Madhya Pradesh High Court reserved its verdict in the high-profile case related to the burning of a Dr. B.R. Ambedkar poster in Gwalior on Monday. The court heard arguments for nearly seven and a half hours before keeping the order pending. A decision is expected by Tuesday evening. The petition was filed by advocate Anil Mishra and three others, challenging their arrest in connection with the incident. Justice G.S. Ahluwalia presided over the hearing, which began at 10:30 am and continued until 5:00 pm. Lawyers representing the petitioners, the state government, and the complainant were all heard. During the proceedings, the court expressed displeasure over the conduct of both sides involved in the controversy. Background of the case The controversy dates back to December 31, 2025, when a poster of Babasaheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar was allegedly set on fire outside the SP office in Gwalior. A video of the incident later surfaced on social media, triggering outrage. Dalit leader Mahendra Bauddh and others lodged a complaint with the Senior Superintendent of Police, claiming that the act had hurt the sentiments of the Dalit community. Following the complaint, the Gwalior Crime Branch registered a case against advocate Anil Mishra and six others. On January 1, 2026, Anil Mishra and three co-accused were arrested near Purani Chhavani while they were allegedly heading towards Morena. The arrests led to widespread protests and unrest throughout the day at the SSP office and the Collectorate. The accused were produced in court on Friday but were denied bail and sent to judicial custody. Special bench and victim’s right to be heard A special bench was constituted for the matter on Sunday. During the hearing, Justice Ahluwalia emphasized that under the SC/ST Act, it is mandatory to provide the complainant an opportunity to be heard. The court directed that the complainant be formally informed about the petition. During arguments, it also emerged that the complainant, Makarand Bauddh, had been absconding since 2017 in another case under IPC Sections 188 and 146, with a warrant issued against him. After his name resurfaced in this case, police arrested Bauddh in connection with the earlier matter and produced him before the court, following which he was sent to jail. Court voices displeasure over conduct of all parties During Monday’s marathon hearing, the High Court heard submissions from the petitioners, the government, and the complainant’s side. The court reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the investigating agency as well as the behavior of both parties involved in the dispute. After hearing all arguments, the court reserved its order without issuing any immediate directions. Advocate Anil Mishra remains in jail Advocate Anil Mishra and the three other accused have been in jail for the past four days. They were remanded to judicial custody after failing to secure bail following their arrest. Speaking after the hearing, Bar Association President and counsel for Anil Mishra, Advocate Pawan Pathak, said, The court heard all parties for seven hours today and has reserved its verdict. We are hopeful that the decision will come by Tuesday evening and will be in our favor. Senior advocate Rameshwar Thakur, appearing for the complainant, said, The court has heard all aspects of the matter and indicated that every point will be considered in its order. The verdict may come within one or two days.