Municipal Corporation of Delhi in Big Action: Mosque Demolition

 The Demolition 

Recent news from Delhi has focused on an anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque (also known as the Syed Faiz Ilahi Mosque) in the Turkman Gate area of ​​Ramlila Maidan. 

Finally, last night, Delhi municipal corporation DEMOLISHED the encroachment amid heavy security forces, using multiple bulldozers 

The lawful action was disrupted by communal sloganeering and stone pelting, but forces brought it under control

In days leading to the court-ordered demolition, heavy misinformation propaganda was mobilised by mosque committee and their allied media. 

Despite municipal body itself giving them multiple chances to prove land ownership, they FAILED

The demolition drive, conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on the morning of January 7, 2026, targeted structures built on land outside the 0.195 acres leased to the mosque. This action followed a Delhi High Court order in November 2025 to vacate approximately 39,000 square feet of land. The drive resulted in the demolition of a dispensary, a banquet hall, and other alleged encroachments. 

Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma stated that coordination meetings had been held with the local committee and stakeholders prior to the operation. “Despite all precautionary and confidence-building measures, some miscreants allegedly attempted to disturb the situation. The situation was brought under control with minimal use of force,” he said.

According to the Delhi Police, the area was divided into nine zones to maintain law and order, each supervised by officers of additional DCP rank. Around 20 bulldozers were deployed in the operation.

The operation turned violent when locals pelted stones at police and MCD teams, injuring five officers.  Police responded by using tear gas to disperse a crowd of 25-30 people, detaining five individuals, filing an FIR, and planning further arrests based on CCTV and body camera footage. 

Delhi Police quickly brought the situation under control and clarified that the operation began at 1:30 AM, not 8:00 AM as initially reported.  The mosque committee challenged the MCD's action in court, claiming the land was Waqf property under their possession, but they did not receive a stay order; the next hearing is scheduled for April 22, 2026. The MCD argued that there was no evidence of ownership for any land beyond the leased area of ​​the mosque.