A portion of the historic Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, was removed on Monday as part of a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh Mela. The mosque is located near the Mahakaleshwar Temple and the Kshipra River, and authorities say the wider road is needed to manage traffic and large crowds expected during the religious gathering.

The action followed a legal dispute over the mosque’s portion that falls within the proposed road alignment. On September 9, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed petitions challenging the removal, noting that portions of 10 temples and another mosque had also been affected by the same road-widening work. The court found that the municipal corporation had followed the required procedure and rejected claims that the mosque was being singled out because it was a religious structure.

On Monday, protests broke out around the mosque as the removal began, with police deploying tear gas after stones were reportedly thrown at officers. Heavy security was deployed in the area, with reports of multiple people being detained or booked following the clashes. Authorities said the broader project involves 272 structures, with more than 80 religious sites reportedly affected, and has a sanctioned cost of about 9.8 crore Indian rupees.

Mosque representatives had argued that religious sites should be excluded from the project and questioned why the road could not instead be widened from the opposite side. The community had also challenged the demolition notices in court. On Monday, however, the Madhya Pradesh High Court disposed of two appeals after representatives of the Muslim side told the court that an agreement had been reached with the Ujjain Municipal Corporation. The court said assurances given by the corporation would be binding.

A mosque committee member later said the affected portion was being removed voluntarily following discussions with the administration and religious leaders, with the work expected to continue for several days. Reports said discussions remained ongoing over the precise extent of the removal. The dispute has drawn attention because the project involves a historic place of worship, while authorities maintain that the road work is part of a wider infrastructure plan for the 2028 Simhastha gathering.