A birthday celebration at a café in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, turned into a controversial confrontation in December 2025 after a group of men, including Rishabh Thakur, entered the premises and allegedly assaulted some of the people attending the party.
The incident became widely discussed after videos of the confrontation circulated on social media. The case subsequently led to arrests, legal proceedings and, later, a six-month externment order against Thakur.
What Happened at the Café?
According to published reports, a 22-year-old nursing student was celebrating her birthday at a café in Bareilly on December 27, 2025. Several friends were present at the gathering, including two male students from a minority community.
During the celebration, Rishabh Thakur and several other men allegedly entered the café and confronted the group. Reports said that the confrontation was linked to allegations of “love jihad.”
A video of the incident subsequently circulated on social media and showed a disturbance inside the café. Police registered a case in connection with the alleged assault and other acts during the incident.
Police Action Followed the Viral Video
The incident attracted considerable public attention after the video became viral. According to police and media reports, several people were arrested in connection with the case, while Rishabh Thakur initially remained absconding.
Police later obtained a non-bailable warrant against him. On January 16/17, 2026, Thakur surrendered before a local court and was subsequently sent to judicial custody.
The café incident also resulted in criticism of the initial handling of the case. Subsequent reporting said that police registered cases under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to alleged house trespass, causing hurt, intentional insult, criminal intimidation and rioting.
Six-Month District Externment
The legal proceedings did not end with the surrender. After Thakur was released on bail, the administration ordered that he be externed from Bareilly district for six months under the Goonda Act.
In February 2026, police escorted him outside the Bareilly district boundary and left him near the Budaun border. Authorities said the action was taken pursuant to the court's order and referred to his previous criminal cases.
The Bajrang Dal also distanced itself from Thakur, with reports stating that he had already been expelled from the organisation before or around the time of the café controversy.
A Controversial Case With Competing Claims
The Bareilly café incident has been presented very differently by different sides. Supporters of Thakur have described the confrontation through the lens of alleged “love jihad,” while the student involved and other reports have described the incident as an unwanted intrusion into a private birthday gathering followed by violence.
It is important to distinguish allegations made by individuals or circulated on social media from facts established through police investigation or court proceedings. The available reports confirm the café confrontation, the subsequent criminal case and Thakur's later six-month externment, but they do not establish the broader claims that a coordinated group had planned to trap the girls or that the incident formed part of a nationwide organised “Jihadi” network.
The case therefore remains an example of how a private gathering, allegations concerning an interfaith relationship and a violent confrontation became a major public controversy in Bareilly.
0 Comments