{
  "id": 16521397,
  "title": "Ujjain Demolition Drive: ₹1 Crore Unauthorised ‘Sant Niwas’ Razed In 3 Hours At Ankapaat Area",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/ujjain-demolition-drive-1-crore-unauthorised-sant-niwas-razed-in-3",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T20:31:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/ujjain-demolition-drive-1-crore-unauthorised-sant-niwas-razed-in-3-hours-at-ankapaat-area"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Sunday morning, the Ujjain Municipal Corporation demolished a building within the 11-Mukhi Virat Hanuman Temple complex on Ankapaat Road in the Simhastha area. The construction, referred to as the Sant Niwas, was supposed to be a sanctuary for saints and ascetics, but it was razed to the ground within three hours. A notice had been issued nine months prior, as the development fell within the restricted Simhastha zone. At approximately 6 am, a municipal corporation team arrived outside the temple, and within minutes, two JCB machines commenced the demolition. By 9 am, over half of the structure had been reduced to rubble. Pramod Malviya, the superintending engineer of the municipal corporation, explained that the demolition was necessary because the building was unauthorized and situated in the Simhastha area. A notice was sent in January regarding the project, which reportedly cost around Rs 1 crore and included 20 rooms. The under-construction Sant Niwas covered an area of 4,000 square feet. The civic employee who witnessed the demolition noted that although the exterior appeared like a typical dharamshala, the interior featured hotel-style rooms. Mahavirdas, the temple's in-charge, had collected the funds by soliciting contributions from individuals. The demolition team, supported by police personnel, reached the temple gate at around 5 am. However, the gate was locked from the inside. After repeated knocks received no response, a municipal employee entered the premises. Once the lock was opened, the team started preparations for the operation. When Mahavirdas saw the JCB machines and the demolition team, he was surprised, as he had not anticipated the swift action. Officials informed him that falling debris could potentially reach him. Later, Kesharinath spoke with Mahavirdas on a video call, showing him the ongoing demolition. As it was early in the morning, communication with others was challenging, so Mahavirdas accompanied Kesharinath to his room.",
  "summary": "Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): The Ujjain Municipal Corporation (UMC) carried out a demolition drive on Sunday morning at the 11-Mukhi Virat Hanuman Temple complex on Ankapaat Road, located in the Simhastha area. A building being constructed for saints and ascetics, reportedly at a cost of Rs 1 crore, was reduced to ruins within just three hours. According to civic officials, a notice had been issued…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}