Police records have revealed that Rishabh Thakur, a prime accused in the recent vigilante disruption of a birthday celebration at a Bareilly cafe, is facing serious criminal charges in three separate cases. The 24-year-old, currently absconding, has been booked for theft, assault, and attempt to murder, with authorities now invoking the stringent Goonda Act against him.
Criminal History and Police Action
According to Jitendra Singh, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Subhash Nagar police station, Rishabh Thakur's criminal record includes a 2022 case for theft and assault. In 2024, he was booked in an attempt to murder case. SHO Singh confirmed that Thakur was arrested in the attempt to murder case in July this year following court directions and was sent to jail. He was later released on bail in August.
Police have filed chargesheets in all three cases. Furthermore, Thakur is also named as an accused in an extortion case. Given his history, the police are now planning to open a history sheet against him. The invocation of the Goonda Act signifies the police's intent to treat him as a habitual offender.
The Cafe Incident and Arrests
The controversy stems from an incident on Saturday, where nearly two dozen self-styled vigilantes forcefully entered a cafe in Bareilly. A nursing student was celebrating her birthday with friends when the group barged in and allegedly assaulted them. The attack, captured on video and widely shared on social media, was reportedly triggered by the presence of two youths from a minority community at the party.
In connection with this cafe attack, the Premnagar police station has registered an FIR based on the cafe owner's complaint. The charges include house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault, wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, mischief, and rioting under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
So far, police have arrested five individuals: Ashish alias Paras Johri, Mridul alias Manish Dubey, Akash, Deepak, and Prince Singh. All five, identified during the investigation, are reportedly first-time offenders. Another key accused, Deepak Pathak, is also absconding alongside Rishabh Thakur.
Profile of the Accused and a Social Media Claim
Investigations paint a picture of the arrested individuals. The five are residents of Izzatnagar, with their houses located within a one-kilometer radius. Ashish (26) works for a private firm while pursuing graduation and is considered a close associate of absconding accused Deepak Pathak. Mridul (19) is employed with a food delivery company. Akash (21) has discontinued his studies and holds a private job. Another accused named Deepak (19) is a fruit vendor who left school after primary education, and Prince (19) is involved in the dairy business.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Thakur, a Bareilly resident who lives in a rented house and is currently unemployed, has surfaced in a purported video on social media. In the video, he claims the cafe incident is being wrongly portrayed as "gundagardi" (hooliganism) carried out in the name of "love jihad." He also alleges that six of his "brothers and associates" are in jail and his father has been detained at the police station. Through the video, he has appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for a fair inquiry.
Police describe Thakur's father as someone who does small, informal jobs for a living. The search for Rishabh Thakur and Deepak Pathak continues as the investigation into the cafe attack unfolds.
