Mangaluru court accepts VHP's plea seeking to conduct survey of Malali Masjid

In a significant development in the Mangaluru Malali Masjid case, the court has agreed to hear the petition of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) that sought to inspect the Assayed Abdullahi Madani mosque in Thenka Ulipady village.

 

A huge controversy had erupted in April 2022 after a Hindu temple-like architectural design was discovered underneath Juma Masjid in Malali on the outskirts of Mangaluru.

 

 

 

Right-wing activists TA Dhananjaya and BA Manoj Kumar had filed a plea, seeking an inspection of the Malali mosque to ascertain if the parts discovered during the masjid renovation belonged to a temple. The petitioners had moved the high court demanding that the lower court should appoint a commissioner to conduct the survey of Malali Masjid.

 

 

The pleas were submitted during the renovation work at Juma Masjid in Malali, in the outskirts of Mangaluru. The renovation work was being conducted by the mosque authorities.

 

 

 

Following the development, people were of the view that there is every possibility that a Hindu temple existed at the site. VHP leaders had appealed to the district administration to stop the renovation work till the documents were verified.

 

As the tensions gripped the area, Dakshina Kannada Commissionerate had ordered to maintain the status quo of the Masjid structure till further orders. The administration looked into the land records and appealed people to maintain peace.

 

“I have received information from field officials and police department about the issue. The District administration is looking into the old land records and entries regarding the ownership details. We will take reports both from the endowment department and the Waqf Board,” Rajendra KV, Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada, had then said.

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