First police complaint in 77 years against Lalbaug Raja

Residents of nearby society claim harassment by cops manning devotee queue

In what is a first, the famous Lalbaugcha Raja finds mention in a police complaint. Members of a Shraddha Co-Operative Housing Society located near the most famous Ganesh pandal in Mumbai, have complained against the serpentine Navasachi queue (for those praying to fulfil wishes) that runs from the mandal via Ganesh Nagar Lane till Pooja Hotel nearby. In a bid to control crowds, police personnel often cause inconvenience to the residents, preventing them from moving around the area freely.


Residents of Shraddha Co-operative Housing Society have a grouse
against Lalbaugcha Raja. Pic/Datta Kumbhar

Residents filed the complaint on August 10 at Kalachowki police station, demanding that the queue not pass through the lane. "We are not against Lalbaugcha Raja. In fact, we provide water and other facilities to needy devotees. But we suffer every year," said Sitaram Ghandat, President of the society.

According to residents, policemen who man the queue treat them unfairly. Ghandat added that last year, a boy from the society was beaten by policemen because he did not follow their instructions, and walked through the lane. "We will organise a rasta-roko andolan if our demand is not heard," he said.

According to organisers of the mandal, they have no alternative but to use the lane because the number of devotees grow every year. Sudhir Salvi, Secretary of the mandal, said, "We have not received any complaint. If we do, we will solve the problem amicably."