Aurangzeb Tomb Conflict Case in Nagpur, Maharashtra

In 2025, a major communal clash erupted in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, after Hindu nationalist groups, including Bajrang Dal, organized a mass protest demanding the demolition of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's tomb. The protest escalated into violent stone-pelting and arson between Hindu and Muslim mobs, resulting in multiple fatalities, including Rajesh Thakur and Sameer Ahmed, and injuries to dozens. Police arrested key instigators like Amit Deshmukh and Farhan Qureshi, leading to a complex trial involving hate speech and criminal conspiracy charges.

The trial is currently ongoing. The Nagpur Sessions Court has framed charges of rioting, murder, and criminal conspiracy against multiple accused. Several defendants remain in judicial custody, while others have been granted conditional bail. The court has emphasized the need to curb hate speech to maintain communal harmony.

The core disputes include the historical interpretation of Aurangzeb's legacy, whether the tomb constitutes a protected monument exempt from removal, the boundary between free speech and hate speech, and the state government's alleged failure to prevent foreseeable communal violence.

The incident severely polarized communities in Maharashtra, led to massive political fallout with opposition parties blaming the government for appeasement and majoritarian bias, and sparked nationwide debates on whether colonial-era and medieval-era monuments should be removed or preserved. It also resulted in increased security around Muslim-majority areas and monuments dedicated to historical Muslim rulers across India.