The house of Fahim Khan, alleged mastermind behind the Nagpur riots, being demolished, after he failed to remove an illegal structure within a 24-hour deadline, in Nagpur, on March 24, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) authorities drew flak from the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday (March 24, 2025) after they demolished the properties of two key accused in the Nagpur violence case. The Municipal corporation, under heavy police security, demolished the two-storey residence of Fahim Khan, a key accused in the March 17 communal violence, citing unauthorised construction. Officials also removed an illegal structure part of the residence of Yusuf Sheikh, another person linked to the unrest that erupted in the Mahal area.

The division bench of Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Vrushali Joshi termed the civic body’s act ‘high-handedness’. “Why were the owners of the house not given a notice that the house was illegal? Why were they not given a hearing before the demolition of the property?” the division bench asked the corporation. While granting an interim relief to the petitioners, the court stopped further demolition of the properties. “Is the NMC targeting the petitioners based on their religion?” it asked.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Mr. Khan’s mother through advocate Ashwin Ingole who argued that the NMC’s move of demolishing their homes was selective enforcement. The petitioner also argued that the construction plans were approved in 2003 without any objections raised since then. The court has also sought a response from the NMC authorities and has listed the case for further hearing on April 15.

Notice issued “a few days back”: Officials

Mr. Khan, city president of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP), is among more than 100 people arrested in connection with the violence. He has been charged with sedition and is currently in judicial custody. The NMC officials said they had issued Mr. Khan a notice for building plan violations and for lack of formal approval “a few days back”.

The operation commenced at approximately 10.30 a.m. in the Sanjay Bagh Colony of Yashodhara Nagar, where three NMC excavators, accompanied by a large police force and drone surveillance, razed Mr. Khan’s house. The entire locality was sealed off for the duration of the exercise.

The civic officials confirmed that the property, registered in the name of Mr. Khan’s mother, was constructed on a Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) leasehold plot, the lease for which expired in 2020. They added that the structure lacked necessary permissions and was therefore considered illegal under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act. A 24-hour notice had been served ahead of the action.

Separately, a team of civic personnel demolished an unauthorised balcony at Mr. Sheikh’s residence in Johripura area of Mahal.

The demolition comes in the aftermath of violent clashes that broke out following the spread of rumours of a religious ‘chadar’ (sacred cloth) being desecrated during a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal protest in the city. The demonstration demanded removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, over 500 km from Nagpur, Maharashtra’s second capital where the headquarters of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is located. The RSS is the fountainhead of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in both the State and the Centre.

The violence, which included incidents of stone-pelting and arson, left 33 police officers. including three Deputy Commissioners of Police, injured, and an injured civilian died while undergoing treatment on Saturday.

Fadnavis vows action against rioters

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur, has vowed stern action, warning that rioters will be made to pay for public and private property damage. “The government will ensure those who attacked the police face severe consequences,” he said. Mr. Fadnavis, who oversees the State’s Home Department, further stated that people circulating provocative material would be booked as co-accused.

While investigations are ongoing into possible external links, including foreign or Bangladeshi connections, the Chief Minister also alluded to a “Malegaon connection”, suggesting that an individual from a political party based in Malegaon may have supported the rioters – a veiled reference to Mr. Khan.

The government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards those involved in the violence, with further legal action expected.