Crime
Trouble brews over Bhopal’s Jama Masjid, 11th-century Bhojshala monument

Two neighbouring states of north India, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, seem to be sailing in the same boat with similar headlines they have been making in the last few days.
While the Gyanvapi mosque case in Varanasi is being debated in and outside the court, a similar issue of ‘temple vs mosque’ seems to be brewing in Madhya Pradesh with a fresh instance surrounding the 19th century Jama Masjid located in Bhopal’s Chowk Bazar area.
A right-wing outfit, Sanskriti Bachao Manch, has claimed that the Jama Masjid located in old Bhopal’s Chowk Bazar locality was built in the 19th century on a Shiva temple.
The issue gained momentum after a group of right-wing activists on Thursday met the state Home Minister Narottam Mishra and drew the state government’s attention to this matter.
Sanskriti Bachao Manch headed by Chandrashekhar Tiwari submitted a memorandum demanding a detailed survey of the Jama Masjid.
Tiwari said that he is preparing to file a petition in the local court over the issue in the coming days.
“We have demanded a detailed archaeological survey of the Jama Masjid by the state government. We will also file a petition in the court seeking a survey and excavation to bare the history of the mosque built over a temple called Sabha Mandap’,” Tiwari told the press after meeting Mishra on Thursday.
Tiwari said that he has raised demands for the survey on the basis of facts collected in Hayate-I-Qudsi (a book on Bhopal’s first woman ruler Nawab Qudsia Begum). The empress (1819-1832) built the Jama Masjid and Gohar Mahal Palace in Bhopal.
“In the book on her life, Nawab Qudsia Begum mentioned that the work on building the Jama Masjid in Bhopal began in 1832 and was completed in 1857. It is also clearly mentioned that the mosque was built on the same land where a Hindu temple known as ‘Sabha Mandap’ already existed,” Tiwari claimed.
Notably, the same issue has been raised by another right-wing outfit called the ‘Hindu Dharma Sena’.
However, this is not the only ‘temple vs. mosque’ dispute in Madhya Pradesh that is being debated these days. Earlier this month, an organisation called the ‘Hindu Front for Justice’ filed a PIL in the high court claiming that the Bhojshala monument located in Dhar district belongs to the Hindu community.
A PIL was filed challenging the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order of 2003, which imposed restriction on Hindus to worship at Bhojshala daily.
Subsequently, the Indore bench issued notices to the ASI, Centre and the MP government seeking their response on the matter.
Bhojshala is an ASI protected 11th century monument which Hindus claim is a temple of Vagdevi (Saraswati), while the Muslim community treats it as the Kamal Maula Mosque.
As per the arrangement made by ASI on April 7, 2003, Hindus perform puja on the premises every Tuesday, while Muslims offer namaz in the complex on Fridays.
“Only the members of the Hindu community have a fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution of India to perform puja and rituals at the place of goddess Vagdevi within the premises of Saraswati Sadan, commonly known as Bhojshala situated in Dhar,” the petition claimed.
“Members of the Muslim community have no right to use any portion of the aforesaid property for any religious purposes,” it added.
The petitioner also urged the court to direct the Centre to bring back the idol of goddess Saraswati from the museum in London, and re-establish the same within the Bhojshala complex.
The plea has cited that the then rulers of Dhar had installed the holy statue at Bhojshala in 1034 AD and it was taken to London in 1857 by the British.
One of the petitioners, Ashish Goyal, said, “We have now started fighting legally to reclaim our religious place. The court found our petition comprehensive and issued notice.”
Crime
Navi Mumbai: Following A Dramatic Chase Sequence, CBI Detained Senior Customs Official For Receiving ₹10 Lakh Bribe

Navi Mumbai: In Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, the CBI has arrested Krishna Kumar, a senior Customs officer, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10.2 lakh. Kumar, who served as superintendent at Sahar Air Cargo, was apprehended after evading the CBI for about an hour. He reportedly had established a ‘rate card’ for clearing goods and, leveraging his connections with the R&I wing of the Customs, had been halting shipments until he received compensation.
After stalling a firm’s goods, Kumar sent an anonymous email demanding a bribe to release the shipments, claiming that most of the bribe would be shared with senior officials. Following his arrest, he was placed in CBI custody until 6 August for further investigation into the R&I wing’s involvement in the case.
The CBI’s investigation stemmed from complaints alleging that Kumar and other unnamed officers were soliciting bribes at a rate of Rs 10 per kilogram of imported goods, despite the legality of the cargo. One firm owner, pressured by Kumar, sought assistance from the CBI after his goods were deliberately withheld despite having all necessary documents.
The CBI set up a trap, recording conversations between 25 July and 1 August, revealing Kumar’s demands for bribes amounting to Rs 6 lakh for previously cleared goods and Rs 10 lakh for current imports. During this time, he stated that he would only retain Rs 20,000 from the bribe, with the remainder destined for his superiors.
On the day of the arrest, Kumar met the complainant outside his colony, accepted the bribe in his vehicle, and attempted to evade capture by speeding through the area. However, he grew suspicious, discarded a bag containing the money near a dustbin, and was subsequently apprehended by CBI officers, leading to a scene of public commotion. The investigation now focuses on Kumar and the involvement of other Customs officials in this bribery scheme.
Crime
Mumbai Crime News: 40-Year-Old Man Arrested For Raping & Impregnating Minor Sister-In-Law; Wife Held For Cover-Up

Mumbai: A 40-year-old man has been arrested by Bandra Police for allegedly raping and impregnating his wife’s minor sister. His wife was also taken into custody for trying to hide the crime and for assisting in the minor’s delivery at home. The case came to light after the girl was admitted to the hospital.
According to the police, the teenage girl lived with her elder sister and brother-in-law in the same house. In her official statement, the minor alleged that her brother-in-law had raped her multiple times between March 2024 and July 2025. When she informed her elder sister about the pregnancy, she allegedly threatened her and did not allow her to seek help.
To cover up her husband’s crime, the elder sister did not let the minor girl visit a doctor or go out for any medical treatment. She conducted the girl’s delivery at home. However, when the girl’s condition worsened, she was rushed to Bhabha Hospital, where medical staff alerted the authorities, as reported.
A police official said, “After the minor’s condition stabilised, we recorded her statement. Based on her account, we booked her brother-in-law and her elder sister. Both were later arrested.” The victim and her baby are currently admitted to the hospital and are said to be in stable condition, according to police.
According to the report, the Bandra police have arrested the man and his wife under the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rape and issuing threats.
The police have also charged the victim’s elder sister with concealing information about the offence, causing the disappearance of evidence, and threatening the teenager. The victim gave birth to the baby at the hospital, and both are currently in stable condition.
Crime
Thane Crime Branch Arrests 25-Year-Old Serial Housebreaker, Cracks 9 Theft Cases In Bhiwandi; Seizes Gold Worth ₹5.98 Lakh

Thane: The Thane Crime Branch Unit 2 has arrested a 25-year-old habitual thief and cracked nine house break-in cases reported across Bhiwandi.
Gold Worth ₹5.98 Lakh Recovered from Accused Akash Jadhav
According to police sources, 58 grams of gold ornaments worth ₹5.98 lakh were recovered from the accused’s possession. The suspect has been identified as Akash alias Chinya Jadhav, a resident of the Manpada area in Thane.
The investigation began after an FIR was filed at Narpoli police station for a housebreaking incident involving an unidentified suspect. Crime Branch officials, along with local police, launched a joint investigation. CCTV footage and technical intelligence led to the identification of Jadhav.
A trap was laid, and the accused was apprehended. He was produced in court and remanded to police custody for further investigation.
History of Theft: 9 Cases Registered Across Four Police Stations
During questioning, police discovered that Jadhav has a history of theft, with nine cases registered against him. These include five at Narpoli, two at Bhiwandi City, one at Nizampura, and one at Shantinagar police station.
Police confirmed the recovery of stolen gold ornaments during the arrest. Further investigation is underway.
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