Tear Gas, Bulldozers as MCD Carries Out Late-Night Demolition Drive Near Delhi’s Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out a late-night demolition drive at an encroached site near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, close to Turkman Gate, in the national capital on Wednesday, following directions from the Delhi High Court.

The action came a day after the high court sought responses from the Ministry of Urban Development, the MCD and the Delhi Waqf Board on a petition challenging the civic body’s demolition order. The court said the “matter requires consideration” and directed the authorities to file their replies within four weeks. The case is scheduled for further hearing on April 22.

Demolition drive and clashes

Videos circulated among local residents showed bulldozers and earth-movers demolishing portions of the century-old mosque, while a heavy police presence was deployed at the site. Other clips appeared to show police firing tear gas shells as groups of people allegedly pelted stones at security personnel. The authenticity of the videos could not be independently verified.

Delhi Police said at least five personnel were injured during the incident.
“Stones were pelted at the police late at night. We used minimal force to push back. Apart from that, the overall process was very smooth,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Nidhin Valsan told ANI, adding that CCTV, ground and body camera footage would be reviewed to identify those involved and initiate legal action.

Background of the case

The demolition stems from an MCD order dated December 22, 2025, which declared that all structures beyond 0.195 acres of land near Ramlila Ground, Turkman Gate, were unauthorised and liable to be removed. The civic body said no documents had been produced to establish ownership or lawful possession of the excess land by the mosque’s managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board. The 0.195-acre portion houses the mosque.

The MCD action followed a November 12, 2025 order of a division bench of the Delhi High Court, which granted three months to the MCD and the Public Works Department to remove encroachments spanning 38,940 square feet in the area. The encroachments included parts of a road, footpath, parking area, a baraat ghar and a private diagnostic centre.

The high court order was passed while hearing a public interest litigation filed by the Save India Foundation.

Petition by mosque committee

In its petition, the managing committee of Masjid Syed Faiz Elahi has sought to set aside the MCD’s demolition order, claiming the property is under its use and that lease rent is being paid to the Delhi Waqf Board.

The committee has argued that the land is notified as waqf property under the Waqf Act and that disputes related to it fall under the jurisdiction of the Waqf Tribunal. Counsel for the petitioner said the committee’s grievance primarily concerns the functioning of a graveyard on the land.

Authorities conducted a joint survey in October 2025, which recorded the presence of encroachments, some of which were found to be on land belonging to public authorities. MCD officials who visited the site on January 4 to mark encroached portions faced resistance from residents, prompting the deployment of additional police.