Mumbai's illegal Aarey Dargah faces bulldozer action; Read why BMC acted promptly after receiving legal complaint
The Dargah site lies in Mumbai’s protected green zone and is regarded as an "extension" of Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
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On Tuesday, June 2, authorities in Mumbai's Aarey Colony started a demolition drive against the Hazrat Syed Barkat Ali Shah Pir Baba Dargah, a structure at the centre of a growing political and legal controversy. The proposed action comes days after a demolition operation at an illegal mosque in Bandra's Garib Nagar triggered unrest, prompting authorities to deploy heavy security around the Aarey site amid fears of a law-and-order situation.
"The land is in the name of the Bhumi Mafia and not in the name of the Dargah trust. The trust is allegedly involved in the scheme to acquire the land. The officials of the concerned village, officers of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the Tehsildar’s office, and the Revenue Department have all reported that a wall has been illegally constructed and that the Bhumi Mafia is attempting to grab the land," he added.
The Nirmal Nagar Police registered an FIR against 10 identified individuals and several others under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other relevant laws. Around 15 individuals were also arrested.
As per the reports, the officials linked to the Dairy Development Board are expected to initiate action, stating that the dargah has been built on government land and is part of a larger encroachment covering nearly 70,000 square feet. According to authorities, the structure is an unauthorised construction situated on government-owned land within the ecologically sensitive Aarey Colony area.
The site lies in Mumbai’s protected green zone and is regarded as an 'extension' of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. BMC and police initiated proceedings after notices were ignored and no valid documents were submitted. Authorities say a trust had unlawfully occupied the site.
Authorities say that any unauthorised development in the area may breach environmental protection regulations and court orders intended to safeguard the region’s forest cover. The matter gained political attention after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya visited the location and voiced concerns over the alleged encroachment, urging authorities to take action against illegal structures.
Land JIHAD...... ilegal DARGAH of Aarey Colony Mumbai Demolished today l.
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) June 2, 2026
I had visited & filed complaint on 9 April 2026 pic.twitter.com/rhNIDQ5ny2
Legal complaint flagged illegal encroachment
It is important to note that BJP's Kirit Somaiya had filed an official complaint to BMC authorities, saying that the Dargah authorities were attempting to grab the ownership of the land in the name of religion.
"There is no evidence that this land belongs to the temple trust. The land records of the said land mention crops and cultivation. In the 7/12 land extract (Survey No. 943442), the land was previously recorded in the names of certain individuals, but from the year 2022 it has been recorded in the name of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park," he said.
"The land is in the name of the Bhumi Mafia and not in the name of the Dargah trust. The trust is allegedly involved in the scheme to acquire the land. The officials of the concerned village, officers of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the Tehsildar’s office, and the Revenue Department have all reported that a wall has been illegally constructed and that the Bhumi Mafia is attempting to grab the land," he added.
Following this, BMC and police authorities are believed to have sent notices to concerned committees, but the legal notices remained ignored. Following this, the authorities ordered bulldozer action.
However, residents and Islamists reject these claims. They argued that the Hazrat Syed Barkat Ali Shah Pir Baba Dargah has stood there for several decades and is a well-established religious landmark with deep historical and cultural significance for the community. The controversy has since expanded into a broader debate encompassing land rights, religious sensitivities, and environmental concerns.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Action is being taken against an alleged illegal dargah in Mumbai’s Aarey Colony over encroachment on government land. BMC and police initiated proceedings after notices were ignored and no valid documents were submitted. Authorities say a trust had… pic.twitter.com/M3gmt9e1xP
— IANS (@ians_india) June 2, 2026
It is crucial to note that this is the second such event that Mumbai has seen in the past 15 days. On May 20, tension gripped Mumbai’s Bandra East region after an anti-encroachment demolition drive in the Garib Nagar area turned violent, triggering clashes between the Islamist protestors and police personnel. Several videos making the rounds on social media claimed that Islamists illegally residing in the area pelted stones at the police, following which the authorities had to resort to a lathi charge.
The Nirmal Nagar Police registered an FIR against 10 identified individuals and several others under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other relevant laws. Around 15 individuals were also arrested.