Maharashtra Police have registered a case against seven men for allegedly offering namaz inside the Electricity Department office of the Malegaon Municipal Corporation in Malegaon, officials said on Thursday.
The case was filed following a complaint by municipal employee Mahendra Raghunath Sawant, 43, who alleged that a group entered the office premises on Wednesday and later performed afternoon prayers there.
Police said the case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections pertaining to criminal force against a public servant, public nuisance, unlawful assembly and common intent.
According to the complaint, two men identified as Salim and Lukman initially visited the office with several others seeking information related to streetlight installations and associated records. Sawant alleged that after being told that the Electrical Inspector maintained the records, the group left but returned around 5 p.m. and stated they would offer Asr prayers inside the office before departing.
Residents linked to the group disputed the allegations. They said they had been called to the department office around 3 p.m. to discuss civic issues and were asked to wait for several hours.
They said the waiting period coincided with the time for afternoon prayers and that the group offered namaz inside the premises out of concern that leaving the office might lead to cancellation of the meeting.
Police said an investigation is underway and further action will be taken based on its findings.