Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Prashant Thakur has submitted a formal application to Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe of the Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate, demanding swift action against what he describes as large-scale illegal construction and misuse of a cemetery plot in Kharghar Sector 14, allegedly being used as a mosque and site for other religious gatherings.
In his complaint, Thakur claimed that the plot, reserved by CIDCO for a Muslim cemetery, is being illegally converted into a mosque without any official permissions. He alleged that prayer halls, toilets, and other permanent structures made from granite and marble have been erected at significant cost, bypassing all civic regulations.
Thakur expressed serious concerns that religious programs and prayers are being held regularly at the site, despite the area lacking a substantial local Muslim population. He further accused organizers of deliberately labelling the plot as a “graveyard mosque” and inviting outsiders to offer namaz and participate in events, creating tension in the locality.
"This unauthorized use of the land is not only illegal but also dangerous to communal harmony," Thakur said in a statement. “Despite repeated complaints by local citizens and authorities, no action has been taken by either CIDCO or the police administration,” he added.
He also referred to a past communal incident in Kharghar, which he claimed was linked to a religious event, resulting in the murder of a local Hindu resident. "That incident led to serious unrest and a near-riot situation. We cannot afford a repeat," he cautioned.
Thakur warned that continued inaction could lead to further social discord. He emphasized the need for immediate demolition of unauthorized structures and strict legal action against the trustees and supporters involved in converting the cemetery land for other purposes.
A delegation of local BJP leaders and affiliates, including BJP District President Avinash Koli, District Secretary Brijesh Patel, Kharghar Mandal President Pravin Patil, Youth President Nitesh Patil, and representatives of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Hindu Jagran Manch, accompanied Thakur during the submission of the application.
The police have yet to issue an official response regarding the complaint.
