The encroachment case related to Delhi’s historical Ramlila Maidan has simultaneously shaken the politics, administration and law and order of the capital. ABP News has gathered exclusive information on the matter. The whole matter started after a complaint by an NGO named Save India Foundation. This has now turned into a major legal and administrative conflict between the Delhi High Court, MCD, Delhi Waqf Board, L&DO and DDA. The bulldozer action on the night of 6 January made this entire dispute more sensitive.

Save India Foundation had filed a complaint in MCD regarding illegal encroachment on the land of Ramlila Maidan. It was alleged in the complaint that illegal construction on public land is being used for commercial purposes and it should be removed immediately. Taking cognizance of this complaint, L&DO, DDA and MCD jointly conducted a joint survey on 16 October 2025.

Shocking revelations in joint survey

The joint survey revealed that illegal encroachment has been done on 2512 square feet of PWD land and footpath. There is 36,428 square feet of Ramlila Maidan land, which was given by L&DO to MCD. A wedding procession, parking of vehicles and a diagnostic center were set up illegally on it. This land was for public use, but it was being misused commercially, which the administration considered a serious violation.

Petition and strict instructions in Delhi High Court

Save India Foundation filed a petition in the Delhi High Court regarding the matter. On November 12, 2025, the High Court directed the MCD to take action to remove illegal encroachment within three months. All parties should be given full opportunity of being heard

MCD hearing Waqf Board vs L&DO

The first hearing on the case took place on 24 November 2025. Representatives of the Management Committee of Faiz Ilahi Masjid, Delhi Waqf Board, DDA and L&DO attended the meeting chaired by DC (L&E), MCD. L&DO clearly said that the disputed land was never given to Delhi Waqf Board. Whereas the Management Committee and Waqf Board asked for time to present the ownership documents.

The second hearing took place on 16 December 2025. Tehsildar also participated in this meeting. The management committee claimed that Dargah Faiz-e-Ilahi is more than 100 years old. Even before independence, there was a mosque and a cemetery here. This is Waqf By User land, hence no separate document is required. Delhi Waqf Board declared ownership rights on 0.195 acres of land on the basis of records of 1940. L&DO also admitted that according to the sale deed dated 15 February 1940, only 0.195 acres of land belonged to Waqf.

Everything beyond 0.195 acres is illegal-MCD

After both the hearings, MCD concluded that in 1959, L&DO had given 30 acres of land to MCD as Ramlila Maidan at a license fee of Re 1. There is no such document available to prove that the disputed land was given to the Waqf Board. Even in the Gazette Notification of 1970, there is no concrete evidence of the disputed land. Only 0.195 acres of land could be confirmed. MCD clearly said that the use of wedding procession and diagnostic center is misuse of public land. Buildings constructed in an area of ​​more than 0.195 acres are completely illegal and should be removed

January 6 hearing and bulldozer action in High Court

Hearing was held again in Delhi High Court on 6 January 2026. The court said that the matter is maintainable and issued a notice to the Ministry of Urban Development, MCD Delhi Waqf Board and sought their reply. However, the status quo that the management committee expected was not achieved. After this, on the night of 6 January, MCD started bulldozing action in the presence of heavy police and paramilitary forces. As soon as the bulldozer reached the disputed site, a crowd of hundreds of people gathered around the Dargah. Stones were pelted at security forces.

To control the situation, police and paramilitary forces released tear gas shells. All roads leading to the mosque and Dargah were barricaded. Even the narrow streets were sealed. Only after cordoning off the entire area, MCD started the action to remove encroachment.

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Waqf sudhar jan jagran abhiyan: An important meeting was organized on Monday (April 21) in the Delhi Pradesh BJP office, in which Waqf reform Janajagaran Abhiyan was started. This meeting lasted about two and a half hours. It was decided in the meeting that from April 20 to May 5, Waqf reform public awareness campaign will be launched in Delhi.

Under this campaign, a special workshop will be organized in every division, in which a spokesperson from the state level will join and give information about the Waqf Amendment Bill. The aim of this campaign is that true facts related to Waqf and government efforts should be conveyed to every section of the society, especially Muslim -dominated areas and families.

BJP Minority Front National President Jamal Siddiqui, State General Secretary Vishnu Mittal, Program Convenor Atif Rashid, Delhi Pradesh in -charge Qari Mohammad Haroon, State President Aneesh Abbasi and all district presidents and mandal in -charge were present in the meeting.

Addressing this important meeting, Jamal Siddiqui said, “The BJP government at the Center is not working towards eliminating the Waqf Board, but to strengthen further. This amendment bill will work to remove illegal occupations on Waqf properties across the country and to reach the right beneficiaries.”

‘Law is in the interest of backward Muslims’
He also said, “This step of the government is in the interest of poor, backward and needy Muslims. When Allah wants the good of the society, he sends a noble fellow. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the same noble people who are working for the betterment of the Muslims of the country.”

‘Waqf Board had become the base of corruption’
On this occasion, State General Secretary Vishnu Mittal said, “The Waqf Board had become a hub of corruption till now. But now due to the foresight of the central government, this amendment bill has been brought, which will stop illegal occupations and it will be possible to make proper use of Waqf properties.”

‘This is the expansion of everyone’s development’
At the same time, Aneesh Abbasi said in his address, “The thinking of development is expanding and the participation of Muslim women is also increasing.” He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and said that a concrete step has been taken to get the right to the Muslim society from the Waqf Amendment Bill.

Explain that this public awareness campaign is an attempt by the BJP Minority Front to increase confidence and information in Muslims. This campaign will try to bring the truth of Waqf to the people and put the developing view of the government in front of the society.