Historic mosque inside Saharanpur collectorate demolished after final court loss
A historic mosque inside the Saharanpur collectorate in Uttar Pradesh was torn down before dawn on Saturday, September 5, 2026, ending a long-running legal fight.
The demolition happened just two days after the mosque committee lost its final court case.
Six bulldozers and heavy security were brought in for the operation.
Court orders eviction and ₹6.41cr compensation
The mosque committee said the site had been a place of worship for about 150 years, but officials argued it was built illegally on government land.
The dispute began last year after allegations of misuse for revenue.
In July, a court sided with the administration, ordering eviction and ₹6.41 crore in compensation based on the minimum circle rate of ₹58,200 per square meter and 70 years of alleged illegal occupation.
Opposition leaders criticized how quickly things moved, with Akhilesh Yadav saying the demolition was a "well-planned conspiracy" and Asaduddin Owaisi asking what the haste was and saying the demolition was part of a "pattern of mosques being knocked down," sparking debate about religious sites on public property.