Citizens’ group condemns demolition of Jain temple in Mumbai, demands action against BMC officer

Watchdog Foundation condemns BMC's demolition of 90-year-old Jain temple in Vile Parle, demands action from Chief Minister.

Watchdog Foundation, a citizens group, has condemned the demolition of a 90-year-old Digambar Jain temple in Vile Parle, Mumbai. In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the group has demanded immediate action against the civic body that carried out the demolition.

“We write to you with deep anguish and outrage over the highly controversial and condemnable action undertaken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in demolishing the 90-year-old Shri 1008 Parshwanath Digambar Jain Temple situated in Vile Parle (East), under the pretext of it being ‘illegal’,” the group said.  

On Saturday (April 19, 2025), thousands of members of the Jain community, dressed in white clothes with a black band, participated in a silent protest against the BMC’s demolition drive of April 16.

Assistant Commissioner Navnath Ghadge Patil, in-charge of the K East Ward, under whose watch the demolition drive was undertaken, has been transferred. 

The Bombay High Court on April 16, in an urgent hearing, restrained the civic body from further demolition of the temple, and ordered a status quo in the case. The matter is listed for further hearing on April 30. 

In its letter to the CM, the group demanded the immediate suspension of the K East Ward officer, and that of all officials involved in the allegedly unlawful demolition; the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against concerned officials for criminal trespass, hurting religious sentiments, and misuse of official authority; the appointment of an independent judicial inquiry into the demolition and “the motives behind the targeting of this temple”; restoration or rehabilitation of the temple; and compensation to the Jain community. 

Godfrey Pimenta, representing the Watchdog Foundation, said the “shameful act” had “deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Jain community, not just in Mumbai but across the country”.