Five individuals were taken into custody after the Delhi Police registered a first information report over alleged stone pelting during an early morning demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi near a century old mosque at Turkman Gate on Wednesday.
Confirming the action, Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Central district Nidhin Valsan said the case has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, along with sections of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984. The charges include rioting, obstructing public servants while performing official duties, damaging government property, and causing injuries to on duty police personnel.
A senior police official confirmed that at least five policemen were injured during the incident. Another officer familiar with the investigation said the detained individuals were identified using footage recorded by body worn cameras and other video evidence collected from the site.
Tension had briefly gripped parts of Old Delhi after civic authorities, supported by heavy police presence, began removing what they described as illegal encroachments adjoining Masjid Syed Elahi, also known as Faiz e Elahi Masjid, near Ramlila Maidan. Although the demolition was scheduled to begin at 8 am, it was initiated around 1.30 am, which led to protests from residents in the surrounding area.
Videos shared within local neighbourhood groups showed bulldozers and earth moving machines demolishing structures close to the mosque while police personnel formed security cordons. Some clips also appeared to show the use of tear gas and instances of stone pelting. These videos could not be independently verified.
Joint Commissioner of Police for the Central Range Madhur Verma said the demolition was conducted in compliance with directions issued by the Delhi High Court and that extensive law and order arrangements were put in place. He explained that the area was divided into nine zones, each overseen by an officer of the rank of additional deputy commissioner of police. More than ten companies of the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force were deployed at sensitive locations.
Verma added that advance coordination meetings were held with members of the Aman Committee and other local representatives to prevent unrest. Despite these measures, he said a small group attempted to disrupt the drive by throwing stones, after which the situation was brought under control through limited and proportionate use of force. A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said only minimal force was used.
Reacting to the developments, Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood said the demolition was strictly aimed at removing illegal encroachments and stressed that the Faiz e Elahi Mosque itself was not harmed. He said the action was confined to unauthorised commercial structures that fell within the scope of court orders and denied any arbitrariness or ill intent on the part of the government.
Calling the violence unfortunate, Sood said five people had been arrested so far. He added that obstructing lawful action carried out under judicial directions was unacceptable and that those involved in demonstrations and violence would face legal consequences.
The demolition drive took place even as the Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice on a petition filed by the managing committee of Masjid Syed Elahi. The petition challenges the decision of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to remove alleged encroachments from land adjoining the mosque and a nearby graveyard. A bench led by Justice Amit Bansal observed that the issue required examination and directed the MCD and the Land and Development Office to submit their responses. The matter has been listed for further hearing on April 22.
Earlier, on December 22, 2025, the MCD had issued a notice stating that all structures beyond 0.195 acres, which is the area occupied by the mosque, were liable to be demolished as part of an anti encroachment drive. The civic body said no documentary proof had been provided to establish lawful ownership or possession of the remaining land by the managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board.
The action follows a November 12, 2025, order of the Delhi High Court directing the MCD and the Public Works Department to clear nearly 38,940 square feet of encroachments at Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate within three months. That order was based on a joint survey conducted in October 2025 by multiple agencies, including the MCD, the Delhi Development Authority, the Public Works Department, the Land and Development Office, the Union urban development ministry, the revenue department, and the police.
Officials said MCD teams had earlier faced resistance from locals when they visited the site on Sunday to mark the encroached areas, prompting authorities to deploy additional police forces ahead of Wednesday’s demolition drive.
