On the evening of 17 March 2025, clashes broke out in central Nagpur, Maharashtra, hours after Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal members protested for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb. After a rumour about a burnt cloth with religious inscriptions, stones, petrol bombs and arson followed in Mahal and Hansapuri. Police imposed a curfew in 11 police station areas, arrested more than 100 people and named Minorities Democratic Party leader Fahim Khan as a key accused. One injured man died.
Key takeaways
- Clashes followed a VHP and Bajrang Dal protest for removal of Aurangzeb's tomb and a rumour that a cloth with religious inscriptions was burnt there. CM Devendra Fadnavis said no verse was burnt.
- Fadnavis said 33 police, including three DCPs, and five civilians were injured, and called it "a premeditated conspiracy".
- Police arrested 112 people by 22 March 2025 and booked MDP leader Fahim Khan for sedition. Khan calls the case political.
- The Bombay High Court stayed the demolition of accused persons' homes after Khan's family house was razed; the civic chief apologised.
Background: the Aurangzeb tomb demand
Aurangzeb's tomb is at Khuldabad, near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. In early 2025 Hindutva groups, including the VHP and Bajrang Dal, stepped up a campaign for its removal, calling it a "symbol of pain and slavery", and held protests in several Maharashtra cities on 17 March Scroll.
Fadnavis said the film Chhaava, about Sambhaji's execution by Aurangzeb's forces, "ignited emotions in the state and led to an outpouring of anger against Aurangzeb" Scroll.
How it started: the protest and the rumour
On 17 March VHP and Bajrang Dal members protested near a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Mahal. Police said in a statement that the protesters burnt an effigy of Aurangzeb and his tomb while chanting for its removal Reuters via Arab News.
A rumour then spread that a cloth (a "chadar") with religious inscriptions had been burnt along with the effigy Business Today. A complaint alleging desecration of the cloth was filed at Ganeshpeth police station that evening Scroll.
Claim · MDP According to IANS, Fahim Khan led a group of 40 to 50 youths to Ganeshpeth police station to complain that the protesters had burnt a green sheet inscribed with a verse. Police assured action. As the group passed through Gandhigate, slogans were raised and, within two hours, stone-pelting began IANS.
Government's position Fadnavis told the Assembly that "Only a replica of Aurangzeb's grave was burnt" and "We have verified that no ayat (verses from the Quran) was burnt. But rumours were spread deliberately" Onmanorama/PTI. Bajrang Dal office-bearers said their members had only burnt an effigy of Aurangzeb Scroll, citing Indian Express.
Timeline
Stones thrown in Chitnis Park
Stones are thrown at police in Mahal. Police use tear gas and cane charges Business Today.
Second clash in Hansapuri
A mob burns vehicles and vandalises houses and a clinic near Old Bhandara Road Tribune/PTI.
Curfew imposed
Curfew is imposed in 11 police station areas AIR.
Fahim Khan arrested
Police arrest Khan hours after he is named in a Ganeshpeth FIR Deccan Herald.
Sedition cases over posts
The cyber police book six people, including Khan, for sedition FPJ/PTI.
Injured man dies
Irfan Ansari dies in hospital. Arrests reach 112 National Herald/PTI.
Curfew fully lifted
Curfew ends in the last four areas, after being eased on 20 and 22 March Deccan Herald.
Demolition and High Court stay
Khan's family house is razed; the High Court stays further action LiveLaw.
Injuries and damage
On the morning of 18 March a senior official said 12 police personnel, including three deputy commissioners of police (DCPs), were injured Tribune/PTI. Later that day Fadnavis told the Assembly that 33 police personnel, including three DCPs, were injured and that "one of the senior officials was attacked with an axe" Tribune/PTI. He said five civilians were also hurt, one in intensive care AIR. Among the injured officers was DCP Niketan Kadam Nagpur Today.
FIRs say the mob threw petrol bombs and stones at police and harassed women police personnel; the police commissioner said CCTV footage was being examined Deccan Herald. A preliminary survey counted more than 60 damaged vehicles, and two cranes were set on fire Scroll, citing Indian Express.
Both accounts
The accused's and MDP's account
Fahim Khan and the MDP say the burnt green sheet carried a verse and that its burning angered young people. In his bail plea Khan said his arrest was "the result of a political conspiracy" and that being named in an FIR did not mean he took part IANS. His lawyers argued in court that the trouble began because police delayed registering his complaint, that the anger was aimed at police and not at Hindus, and that he was not at the scene Hitavada.
Police and government account
Fadnavis said "The mob targeted specific houses and establishments" and called it "a premeditated conspiracy" Tribune/PTI. He said "a trolley full of stones and weapons" had been seized Scroll. Cyber police said Khan "edited and circulated the video of the protest against Aurangzeb due to which the riots spread" Scroll, citing ANI.
Claim · VHP The VHP denied any violence Reuters. Its Vidarbha leader Devesh Mishra rejected the chadar claim, said "We won't tolerate glorification of Aurangzeb" and asked for stern action against those responsible ETV Bharat/PTI.
Arrests and cases
Arrests rose from 15 on the morning of 18 March Business Today to 54 on 19 March, with six FIRs against 1,200 people Onmanorama/PTI. By 20 March more than 80, including 11 minors, were in custody Scroll. Police put the total at 112 on 22 March National Herald/PTI.
Khan is the MDP's Nagpur president and contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election against Nitin Gadkari Deccan Herald. On 20 March DCP (Cyber) Lohit Matani said four FIRs named 50 people for creating and spreading provocative videos and posts, six of them, including Khan, for sedition. Police asked platforms to block 230 profiles FPJ/PTI. On 22 March MDP executive president Hamid Engineer and one other person were booked for sedition National Herald/PTI.
Kotwali police booked VHP and Bajrang Dal office-bearers for stoking religious tension, and eight surrendered on 19 March and got bail. Ganeshpeth police registered a separate case against a VHP state office-bearer, who had not been arrested at that time Onmanorama/PTI. Fadnavis said the protesters were booked under BNS sections on outraging religious feelings and the Maharashtra Police Act Scroll.
The demolition and the High Court
On 22 March Fadnavis said the cost of damage would be recovered from rioters, and their property seized and sold if they did not pay AIR. On 24 March the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) razed the two-storey house in Sanjay Bagh Colony where Khan's family lived, saying it was built without an approved plan. It also removed part of a second accused's house Tribune/PTI LiveLaw.
Khan's mother, who petitioned as the owner, had challenged the 21 March notice that morning. A bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi stayed all action under the notice and said it was prima facie satisfied that the demolition was "in contravention of the judgment of the Apex Court", the Supreme Court's November 2024 ruling that homes cannot be demolished only because someone is accused of a crime. By then, the house was already down LiveLaw.
In an April 2025 affidavit, NMC commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari tendered an "unconditional apology". He said officials did not know of the Supreme Court guidelines because the state had not sent the required circular FPJ/PTI. In February 2026 a bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode asked the NMC to say by 4 March whether it would rebuild the house or pay compensation SabrangIndia.
The death of Irfan Ansari
Irfan Ansari, a welder, left home around 11 pm on 17 March to catch a train to Itarsi. He suffered head wounds and a fractured leg and died at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital on 22 March. His family said they did not know how he was injured The Federal/PTI. His brother later said unknown people attacked him Deccan Herald. Reports give his age as 38 or 40.
On the night of 30 April 2026 Tehsil police arrested Khan again. He had been out on bail in the riots case and was named as an accused in the case over Ansari's death Nagpur Today.
What political leaders said
- Government: Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari appealed for calm Tribune/PTI. Fadnavis later said "we will dig them out from their graves, but won't spare those who attacked police" Deccan Herald.
- Congress: State chief Harshvardhan Sapkal called it "the utter failure of the home department" and said ministers had been "deliberately making provocative speeches" Deccan Herald/PTI. Vijay Wadettiwar alleged an intelligence failure and said police "were nowhere to be seen for one-and-a-half hours" Deccan Herald/PTI.
- Shiv Sena (UBT): Ambadas Danve alleged the government was "behind the Nagpur violence" Tribune/PTI.
Outcome
- Deaths: One, Irfan Ansari, on 22 March 2025.
- Injuries: 33 police, including 3 DCPs, and 5 civilians, per the CM; early official figure 12 police.
- Curfew: 11 police station areas from 18 March; fully lifted on 23 March.
- Arrests: 112 by 22 March 2025; more than 120 by February 2026, per SabrangIndia.
- Bail: 80 accused got bail on 1 July 2025 Hitavada; eight VHP and Bajrang Dal members got bail on 19 March 2025.
- Demolition: One house razed; High Court stay; civic chief apologised.
What is still pending
No trial verdict has been reported. The case over Ansari's death was still being investigated after Khan's April 2026 re-arrest. The NMC's answer on rebuilding or compensation, and the court's final ruling, were not found in the reporting reviewed.
Questions people ask
What caused the Nagpur violence in March 2025?
It followed a VHP and Bajrang Dal protest on 17 March for removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, at which an effigy was burnt, and a rumour that a cloth with religious inscriptions was burnt too. The CM said no verse was burnt.
Who is Fahim Khan?
He is the Minorities Democratic Party's Nagpur president. Police named him a key accused and booked him for sedition; he denies the charges. He was re-arrested in April 2026 over Irfan Ansari's death.
Was Fahim Khan's house demolished?
Yes, on 24 March 2025. The Bombay High Court stayed further action that day, and the civic chief later apologised to the court.
Did anyone die in the Nagpur violence?
Yes. Irfan Ansari, a welder injured on the night of 17 March, died in hospital on 22 March 2025.
Sources
- Business Today: Nagpur violence: Curfew in several areas, 15 arrested, 12 police personnel injured, 18 Mar 2025
- Tribune/PTI: Curfew in parts of Nagpur after protest against Aurangzeb's tomb sparks violence, 18 Mar 2025
- Tribune/PTI: Nagpur violence seems pre-planned; mob targeted specific houses, says CM Fadnavis, 18 Mar 2025
- All India Radio: Violence in Nagpur appears to be premeditated, says Maharashtra CM, 18 Mar 2025
- Scroll: Film Chhaava sparked anger against Aurangzeb, says Maharashtra CM, 18 Mar 2025
- Reuters via Arab News: India orders curfew after violence over tomb of 17th-century Muslim ruler, 18 Mar 2025
- ETV Bharat/PTI: Won't tolerate glorification of Aurangzeb: VHP on Nagpur violence, 18 Mar 2025
- Deccan Herald/PTI: Maharashtra Congress chief slams govt failure, 18 Mar 2025
- Onmanorama/PTI: 8 VHP, Bajrang Dal members surrender, released on bail, 19 Mar 2025
- Deccan Herald: Nagpur violence: Main accused arrested, 19 Mar 2025
- Deccan Herald: Fadnavis vows to dig accused out of their graves, 19 Mar 2025
- Deccan Herald/PTI: Intelligence failure led to Nagpur violence, Oppn attacks Maharashtra govt, 19 Mar 2025
- Scroll: Nagpur violence: Six charged with sedition, curfew partially lifted, 20 Mar 2025
- Free Press Journal/PTI: Local leader Fahim Khan among 6 booked for sedition, 20 Mar 2025
- IANS: Key accused Faheem Khan alleges political malice in bail plea, 21 Mar 2025
- National Herald/PTI: Seven more held, total rises to 112, injured man dies, 22 Mar 2025
- The Federal/PTI: Man injured on March 17 dies in hospital, 22 Mar 2025
- All India Radio: Rioters to pay for Nagpur violence damage, says CM, 22 Mar 2025
- Deccan Herald: 6 days after violence, curfew completely lifted from Nagpur, 23 Mar 2025
- Tribune/PTI: HC stays demolition of house of Nagpur riots accused, raps civic authorities, 24 Mar 2025
- LiveLaw: 'High-handed': Bombay High Court slams Nagpur civic body for demolishing homes of accused, 24 Mar 2025
- Free Press Journal/PTI: Nagpur municipal chief apologises to Bombay High Court, 16 Apr 2025
- The Hitavada: Mahal riot: 80 accused granted bail, 1 Jul 2025
- SabrangIndia: Rebuild or compensate: Nagpur HC confronts NMC over demolition, 20 Feb 2026
- Nagpur Today: Key accused in 2025 Nagpur riots Fahim Khan re-arrested by Tehsil Police, 1 May 2026