Protest put off following a joint meeting. Bajrang Dal official raises issues about mosque, loudspeakers, and Bangladeshis, but no police action has been reported on his complaint yet.
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI – In a significant move following a complaint by a Muslim organisation, Navi Mumbai police have shut down the Vinayak Residency lodge, located next to Masjid Darussalam at Tarbhe Naka, and have barred its reopening without official permission.
The action was taken after Khawaja Mian Patel, the state vice president of Ghar Haq Sangharsh Samiti, submitted a written complaint not only to police but also to top state authorities, including the chief minister and deputy chief minister. Patel also notified officials of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad about his concerns, prompting swift police intervention.
“We had complained about illegal activities in the lodge next to the mosque,” said Khawaja Mian Patel while speaking to Clarion India. “The lodge has been shut down and we were called to the police station. The police clearly said that the lodge cannot operate unless it has proper permissions.”
The lodge, according to Patel, had been running without adequate municipal approvals. In response to the complaint and a threatened protest by locals, police called a meeting of key civic and police authorities.
“The meeting included the Assistant Commissioner of Police, MIDC engineers, ward officers, and other officials from Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. After reviewing the situation, it was decided that the lodge would remain closed,” Patel added.
While the Muslim community raised concerns about the lodge, the Bajrang Dal attempted to shift the focus by making serious and unverified claims about the mosque and the surrounding Muslim population.
Tejas Patil, a Bajrang Dal official from Ghansoli, reportedly filed complaints against the mosque and Muslims in the area. His list of objections included the use of loudspeakers during the call to prayer (azan), the presence of a madrasa, alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, and what he called “disruption to traffic after Friday prayers.”
Responding to this, Khawaja Mian Patel stated: “We are open to any inquiry. If someone finds any illegal activity or any Bangladeshi citizen, let them point it out. We ourselves will support the action. But spreading such baseless claims only fuels hate.”
He clarified, “We use loudspeakers within the legal limit, and we have police permission. All documents related to the mosque are available and our accounts are properly submitted to the Charity Commissioner. There is no illegal activity.”
Senior Inspector Abasaheb Patil of MIDC Tarbhe Naka Police Station confirmed the closure of the lodge and said, “The lodge is closed. Its owner has been asked not to reopen it without prior permission.”
Patil further noted that the issue had been under discussion for 12 years and clarified, “Our role is to maintain peace. We acted on the complaint filed by Khawaja Mian. As for the complaint by Tejas Patil, we have not received anything officially from him. If something has gone to the Commissioner, we’ll act when it comes to us.”
After the police action and assurances from authorities, the planned protest by Muslim residents and community leaders has been cancelled. “The police and civic officials took our complaint seriously, and we saw positive response in the joint meeting,” said Patel.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Dal’s Tejas Patil spoke to Clarion India and appeared to soften his tone. “Some issues are resolved by understanding, not just by legal action. I spoke to Khawaja Mian and said that if everything is forced into legal boundaries, it might become difficult for all,” Patil said.
He also commented on the lodge, “As far as I know, there’s no obscene activity happening at Vinayak Residency. But if there is, then the police will investigate.”
On his complaint against the mosque, he admitted: “I don’t know the full details, but I heard it is being looked into.”
Muslim leaders in the area have called on groups like Bajrang Dal to stop making inflammatory and communal statements. “Such attempts to disturb peace must not be tolerated,” said a community elder who did not wish to be named. “It’s time we lived peacefully as neighbours, not as enemies.”
He also questioned the motives behind Patil’s complaints. “Raising fingers at Muslims, calling them Bangladeshis, and questioning their prayers is nothing but an attempt to target us unfairly. Let the law speak — we are ready for any inquiry.”
Locals have said the mosque and the lodge have stood side by side for years. The Masjid Darussalam, named in memory of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Nagar, serves hundreds of local Muslim families. The lodge has long been suspected by locals of violating norms, operating without proper approvals.
“This is not a Hindu vs Muslim issue,” said a local social worker. “This is about legality and safety. If a lodge next to a mosque is running without rules, it affects everyone, not just Muslims.”
While the police have responded to the Muslim community’s complaint, community leaders stressed the need for fair action in all directions.
“If Bajrang Dal complains, fine — look into it. But don’t use that to harass the mosque or Muslims,” said one resident. “We have been here for decades. We pay taxes, we follow the law, and we worship in peace. But some people want to break that peace.”
The closure of the lodge has brought temporary relief to the local Muslim community. But the wider issue of growing communal tension, triggered by fringe right-wing groups making baseless accusations, remains a concern.
Khawaja Mian Patel and his group are hopeful that authorities will stand with the truth. “We want nothing but justice. Let the law be equal for all. But no one should be allowed to harass Muslims in the name of complaints,” he said.
For now, the community has postponed its protest, but the message is clear: Muslims in Navi Mumbai will not remain silent if unfairly targeted — and they will respond firmly, but peacefully, through legal and democratic means.
