A sessions court in Prayagraj on Saturday granted bail to Manzoor Ahmad, the son of former Uttar Pradesh minister Ansar Ahmad, in connection with the tragic collapse of a cold storage facility in the Phaphamau area. The incident occurred on March 23, 2026, at the Adarsh Cold Storage, which is owned by Ansar Ahmad. The collapse resulted in the deaths of four labourers and left 14 others injured. Additionally, an ammonia gas leak was reported following the collapse, triggering emergency response measures by local authorities.
Court Proceedings
Sessions Judge Satya Prakash Tripathi presided over the bail hearing and granted relief to Manzoor Ahmad after considering arguments from both his legal counsel and the state government's representatives. The court's decision came after a thorough examination of the case details and the evidence presented.
Previous Bail Grants
Earlier, four staff members of the cold storage had also been granted bail in the same case. The employees who secured bail include Mohd Irfan, Mohd Jabir, Allauddin, and Mohd Usman. Their release on bail was part of the ongoing legal proceedings related to the collapse.
FIR and Charges
An FIR was lodged by sub-inspector Kambod Singh against 12 individuals, comprising seven named accused and several unidentified accomplices. The accused have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Section 103 (murder), along with Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1932, and other relevant charges. The investigation continues as authorities seek to determine the exact cause of the collapse and hold all responsible parties accountable.
