Sambhal’s Baba Bahauddin Shah Mosque has come under scrutiny after a lawyer and Hindu organisation leader alleged that changes were made to the structure of the mosque located in the Chaudhary Sarai Chowki area.
The complaint comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, where a dispute has emerged over claims that the mosque was built at the site of a Harihar Temple.
Complaint Filed With Sambhal DM
Subhash Chandra Tyagi, national convenor of Shri Kalki Sena and a lawyer, submitted a complaint to Sambhal District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal, alleging that the structure of the Baba Bahauddin Shah Mosque, which he claimed is an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected property, had been altered.
Following the complaint, the district magistrate handed the matter over to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) for investigation.
Tyagi alleged that the mosque had been modified into a structure resembling a fort and claimed that such changes could pose a security concern.
“The mosque is protected property of ASI. Despite this, its structure has been altered. It has been shaped like a fortress, so weapons can be fired from here if a civil war-like situation arises,” Tyagi alleged.
He also claimed that people had gathered at the mosque during previous protests and communal tensions, including during the agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). These claims have not been independently established.
District Administration Orders Investigation
District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal said the matter could not be decided without an investigation.
He said there were two pieces of land near the cemetery that were registered in the name of Jama Masjid, while the mosque itself was a protected building under the ASI.
The district administration will now examine whether any unauthorised construction or occupation has taken place on the land or whether the mosque’s structure was altered without permission.
Khandelwal indicated that a conclusion would be reached only after the investigation is completed.
Mosque Management Yet to Respond
The mosque’s mutawalli has not publicly responded to the complaint so far.
According to Tyagi, however, the mutawalli has claimed that the mosque is Waqf property and stands on land associated with Syed Baba Bahauddin Shah. The mutawalli has reportedly said that documents supporting the claim are available.
Local Muslim residents say the mosque is several hundred years old, although the existing structure was rebuilt around 15 to 20 years ago after parts of the older building weakened.
They have rejected suggestions that the mosque’s construction is part of any dispute and alleged that such claims are being raised for political purposes.
Hindu Residents Seek Clarity Over ASI Rules
Some Hindu residents in the area have said that even if the mosque is Waqf property, it can still be protected under ASI regulations.
They argued that any repair, alteration or reconstruction of a protected monument should comply with applicable ASI rules and permissions.
The administration’s investigation is expected to determine whether any construction or alteration took place without the required approval and whether there has been any unauthorised occupation of government or protected land.
The controversy has emerged in an already sensitive atmosphere in Sambhal, where disputes over religious sites have previously triggered tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities.
