Mumbai, Aug 25: A 22-year-old man was arrested after eggs were allegedly thrown at a Ganesh idol being taken to a pandal during a late-night procession in Mazgaon, south Mumbai, police said on Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner of Police Jayant Meena said the accused, identified as Danish Sher Khan, was traced and detained nearly 36 hours after the incident.
What police say happened
According to the Byculla police station first information report and statements cited by the Deputy Commissioner, the incident took place late on Sunday night when the idol of the ‘Mazgaoncha Morya Ganeshotsav Mandal’ was being taken to its pandal for immersion preparations. An egg reportedly landed on the idol, prompting a brief but tense gathering outside Continental Heights, a residential building in Mazgaon.
Police said Khan, who worked as an online egg delivery person, had gone to the Continental Heights building to deliver an order. He was reportedly affected by smoke from firecrackers being burst outside the housing society, which caused irritation in his eyes and left him unable to walk properly. In a fit of anger, he allegedly threw eggs from an upper floor at the moving procession, DCP Meena said.
“Technical evidence helped identify and apprehend the accused,” the deputy commissioner said, adding that five special teams had been formed to trace the person responsible.
Charges and ongoing investigation
Khan was booked under sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 196 (promoting enmity between different groups and acts prejudicial to maintenance of communal harmony) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the police said. Further investigation into the incident was underway.
- Incident location: Continental Heights, Mazgaon, south Mumbai.
- Alleged accused: Danish Sher Khan, 22, online egg delivery worker.
- Police action: Case registered at Byculla police station; five special teams formed; arrest made after technical evidence.
Local impact and police response
The episode briefly raised tensions in the area as residents and members of the Ganeshotsav mandal gathered outside the building following the alleged attack on the idol. Police said they deployed additional personnel to restore order and prevent escalation. No injuries were reported in media accounts released by the force.
Mazgaon is a densely populated precinct in south Mumbai where Ganeshotsav processions and pandal-related activities draw large local crowds every year. Incidents that touch on religious observances can quickly inflame public sentiment; the police statement suggested swift investigative steps were taken to avoid communal flashpoints.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim (object) | Mazgaoncha Morya Ganeshotsav Mandal idol |
| Accused | Danish Sher Khan, 22 |
| Police station | Byculla |
| Sections booked | BNS 299, 196 |
Authorities said the eggs were allegedly thrown from an upper floor of Continental Heights and that the act prompted an immediate police probe. DCP Meena told reporters the arrest followed analysis of technical evidence, without specifying the nature of the evidence.
The case under the relevant BNS provisions carries public order implications; officials said they were continuing investigations to establish motive, method and whether any others were involved. The police have not made available further details about when Khan will be produced before a magistrate or whether he has recorded a statement.
Residents of Mazgaon and neighbouring areas remain sensitive to disruptions around festival processions, and the swift police response aims to reassure communities that such incidents will be investigated promptly. The matter is likely to be followed closely by local mandals and civic groups concerned about the sanctity of religious events and public safety during festival season.
