Lalbaugcha Raja Case: Complainants Seek State Control Over Festival Management, Cite Crowd, Security Concerns

Mumbai, September 8, 2026 - Two city-based advocates, Ashish Rai and Pankajkumar Mishra, who are the complainants in the Lalbaug Cha Raja's alleged mismanagement case, have filed a rejoinder urging the State government to take full control over the festival management. The complainants oppose the current stand taken by the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, the Mumbai Police, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The advocates claim that the respondents, including the Mandal, have failed to address complaints regarding crowd management, alleged assault, misconduct by volunteers, and thefts. The complainants allege that these issues are not isolated incidents but a continuous wrong that has been recurring during the annual Ganesh festival over the years.

They point out that complaints were lodged in September 2023 and September 2024, but no corrective action was taken by the authorities. The rejoinder cites reports of alleged stampede-like situations during crowd management, where devotees are forced to pass through narrow, barricaded lanes. The complainants also mentioned an FIR registered at Kalachowki Police Station in connection with a mobile phone theft and seek additional measures such as stronger CCTV coverage and the deployment of adequate police personnel, including plainclothes officers.