MP: Mosque committee head booked for appointing Imam without Police approval

September 12, 2025 by News Desk

Police in Khandwa district have registered a case against Mohammad Hanif, president of the mosque committee in Kharkala village, for allegedly failing to inform authorities about an outsider, Akhtar Raza, staying on the mosque committee premises.

Raza, a resident of Bihar, was temporarily appointed as the mosque’s imam to lead prayers, with his permanent role pending committee approval. The FIR against Hanif was filed under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for contempt of a public servant’s order, as district rules require reporting the stay of outsiders to the police.

Hanif told Maktoob that Raza, who was on probation, lived in space allocated by the committee, not inside the mosque itself. “We planned to submit his documents once his permanent appointment was confirmed. All documents, including details of Raza’s extended family, have now been submitted to the police,” he said.

Raza explained that the delay in verification was due to uncertainty over his permanent status. He added that his family briefly visited but returned to Bihar due to the lack of rented accommodation and that he currently shares the committee-provided space with others.

Locals, including Mehboob Khan, allege the FIR reflects attempts by right-wing groups to disturb Kharkala’s communal harmony. Tensions had surfaced during recent Eid Milad-un-Nabi and Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, when Hindu nationalist groups objected to the Eid procession’s traditional route through Hindu-majority areas.

Khan noted that the village, with a 70:30 Hindu-Muslim population ratio, has historically shared procession routes peacefully. “During the Ganesh procession through Muslim areas, no one objected. Now everything is being made communal,” he said.

Khandwa Police confirmed two separate disputes during the celebrations and said FIRs were filed in both cases. Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai emphasized that reporting the presence of outsiders to police is mandatory and violations are subject to strict action.

The case against Hanif is under investigation, highlighting concerns about communal tensions and administrative oversight in Kharkala, where traditional coexistence is being tested by recent disputes.