A mosque located inside the District Magistrate's office complex in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh was demolished on Saturday, September 5, a day after the District Judge's court dismissed an appeal by the Muslim side against an earlier order declaring the structure illegal.
Senior administrative officials, including the District Magistrate and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, reached the site as bulldozers began work. The Collectorate complex was placed under heavy security, with Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel deployed and all gates shut as a precaution. The mosque was reportedly sealed on Friday night before the structure was razed the following morning.
District Judge Satendra Kumar, after hearing arguments from both sides and examining the evidence, upheld the City Magistrate's order on Thursday, September 4, rejecting the Muslim side's appeal. The City Magistrate's court, headed by Kuldeep Singh, had on July 17 declared the mosque illegal, ordered its demolition, and imposed compensation of around Rs 6.41 crore on the occupants over alleged illegal encroachment and misuse of government land.
The case was initiated following a complaint by Vikas Tyagi, former provincial coordinator of the Bajrang Dal, who alleged the mosque had been built illegally inside the DM office complex, a government premises where confidential administrative work is carried out. The complaint further alleged the premises were being used for commercial purposes alongside religious activities, with a post office reportedly operating from the site and some rooms allegedly rented out to outsiders, with the mosque committee collecting monthly rent.</p>
The district administration argued that the alleged encroachment and commercial use raised security concerns, given the sensitive nature of government operations at the location.
The Muslim side has contested the basis for the action, arguing that the City Magistrate's order had directed the mosque be vacated but had not explicitly ordered its demolition.
Former MP Fazlur Rahman appealed to the administration to avoid hasty action, saying the matter would be contested in the High Court and claiming the Muslim side still had around 22 days to pursue legal remedies. Congress MP Imran Masood also said the Muslim side would move the High Court, citing revenue records he said carried the names of Wahid Khan and Yaqub Khan, and arguing that the structure's long-standing presence and those records should have been taken into account.
Samajwadi Party MP from Kairana, Iqra Hasan, alleged she was placed under house arrest at her residence while attempting to travel to Saharanpur following the demolition.
The development comes amid similar administrative action against alleged illegal religious structures in other parts of Uttar Pradesh.
