Civic authorities carried out a late-night demolition drive on Max Hospital Road in Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, on 23 September 2026, targeting portions of the Madina Mosque and adjoining structures as part of an anti-encroachment and road-widening exercise. The operation, conducted under heavy security deployment, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and the local community, with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) questioning both the timing and the manner in which it was executed.

How the operation unfolded

Municipal officials arrived late at night with several bulldozers and dumpers to demolish portions of the Madina Masjid, a structure residents say is approximately 30 years old, located in Shalimar village. Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed at the site and on surrounding streets. According to the administration, the structures removed were illegal encroachments on public land, and the action formed part of an official road-widening project aimed at easing traffic congestion along the stretch.

Notably, the operation was conducted with lights reportedly switched off, according to AIMIM leaders who arrived at the scene. The secretive timing of the drive has become a central point of controversy, with critics arguing it was designed to pre-empt community resistance.

AIMIM raises alarm, questions Delhi CM

AIMIM State President Shoaib Jamai said he was alerted by party chief and Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi at around 11:30 pm. Jamai said he dispatched a local team to assess the situation, only to find that bulldozers had been brought in “under the cover of late-night darkness with all the lights shut off.”

“According to the mosque’s Imam and locals, they weren’t even given time to retrieve the Holy Quran. This is the height of oppression, secretly carrying out such actions in the dark without the knowledge of Delhi or the nation… We are not trying to create any law and order situation,” Jamai said.

He further alleged that opposition representatives were being denied access to speak with local residents and directed a pointed question at the state government: “Can CM Rekha Gupta answer why an opposition leader is not allowed to meet the locals?” Notably, Shalimar Bagh is the Assembly constituency represented by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta herself.

Mosque authorities cite pending court matter

Madina Masjid President Movin Khan said the matter was still before the court and that mosque authorities had been engaging with notices issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). He said a fresh application had been filed through a lawyer requesting legible copies of documents before a full reply could be submitted, but the MCD proceeded to issue three successive notices — the last one stating demolition would be carried out within 15 days.

Khan said the matter was then taken to the Appellate Tribunal, where arguments were heard about the age and legal status of different parts of the structure. He claimed the tribunal recognised one floor as valid but ordered the demolition of upper floors, which were deemed new construction. “The judge had stated that the upper floors would be demolished but never stated when and how… Out of nowhere, they came yesterday and started the process,” he said.

Imam alleges selective targeting

Madina Masjid Imam Zarifur Rehman questioned the basis for classifying the mosque as an illegal structure, alleging that similar property arrangements existed widely across the Shalimar area. “Everyone across Shalimar holds a general power of attorney, and every house in the area stands on the same power-of-attorney basis; yet, only the mosque is singled out as illegal,” he told reporters.

Rehman maintained that the mosque authorities had pursued the matter through legal channels and submitted responses to the authorities before any demolition action was initiated, but the MCD issued a notice the following day anyway, giving a 15-day deadline to demolish or face municipal action.

What happens next

The demolition adds to a broader national debate over the use of bulldozer actions, particularly when they involve religious structures and ongoing court proceedings. With AIMIM having publicly flagged the incident and questions raised about due process, further legal challenges are expected. The MCD and the Delhi government are yet to issue a formal public response addressing the timeline of court proceedings and the decision to proceed late at night.