Mumbai, April 9 The Lalbagcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal here has appealed to the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission to dismiss a complaint filed against it regarding the alleged ill-treatment faced by devotees seeking 'Darshan' during the Ganesh festival.
The famous Ganesh Mandal in central Mumbai attracts lakhs of devotees, including film stars and politicians, during the 10-day festival every year.
Two city-based lawyers filed a complaint with the Commission in 2025, expressing their concern over the special treatment given to VIPs. They claimed that women, children, and the elderly were subjected to "malicious behavior," and their rights were violated.
The complaint, filed by advocates Ashish Rai and Pankaj Mishra, alleged that ordinary devotees faced misconduct and criminal activity in the long queues for Darshan, including the theft of mobile phones and other valuables.
In its response to the commission on Wednesday, the Ganesh Mandal argued that the complaint was filed in August 2025, but it referred to grievances dating back to 2023 and 2024. Therefore, it was legally barred due to the delay, as per the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The Mandal stated that security arrangements for VIPs and dignitaries are decided by the Mumbai Police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and they are meant to facilitate smooth movement for all devotees.
Furthermore, the response added that no individual devotee corroborated the allegations of "mishandling" or "misbehaviour," adding that the allegations were "vague and lacked specific details."
The Mandal stated that the complaint should be dismissed with "heavy penalties."
In their response, the police stated that the Lalbag area, where the Ganesh Mandal erects its pandal during the festival, becomes one of the most densely populated religious sites in the world during the 10-day festival. They said that in 2025 alone, over 1.5 to 2 million devotees visited the Mandal's Ganesh pandal.
Regarding the allegations of ordinary devotees facing misbehaviour or even assaults, the police said that nine Non-Cognizable (NC) offenses were registered, and appropriate legal action was taken.
The matter will be next heard by the Human Rights Commission on July 7.