Mumbai’s most famous Ganpati pandal, Lalbaugcha Raja, has found itself at the center of a major controversy after allegations of discrimination and mistreatment of devotees surfaced. Lawyers Ashish Rai and Pankaj Kumar Mishra have lodged a formal complaint with the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC), naming the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the State Secretary as responsible authorities. At the heart of the complaint lies the VIP versus Non-VIP darshan system, which the petitioners say violates the principle of equality and subjects ordinary devotees to inhuman conditions.

According to the complaint, lakhs of common devotees — including children, elderly citizens, women, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities — are forced to stand in line for up to 48 hours without access to basic facilities such as drinking water, restrooms, or medical aid. Meanwhile, VIPs are allegedly allowed unhindered access within minutes, with police personnel and mandal workers facilitating photography and videography for them, even as ordinary devotees are stopped, shoved, and sometimes abused by bouncers and volunteers.

The lawyers argue that such practices not only compromise the dignity and safety of worshippers but also risk stampede-like situations, as documented in several national news reports. They further pointed out that despite filing complaints with the Mumbai Police Commissioner in September 2023 and again in 2024, no corrective action has been taken.

In their plea to the Human Rights Commission, the petitioners demanded an immediate investigation, abolition of the VIP darshan system, and enforcement of equality as guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution. They also sought stronger arrangements for vulnerable groups under Article 21, including dedicated police presence within the pandal to record complaints of misbehavior or harassment on the spot.

Lalbaugcha Raja, considered the most prestigious Ganesh mandal in Mumbai, attracts crores of devotees every year. While VIPs reportedly get darshan within five minutes, ordinary visitors often stand in serpentine queues for an entire day or two, with many falling ill due to exhaustion and mismanagement. The MSHRC is expected to summon the Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal in response to the complaint, which has reignited debate around the fairness and safety of the darshan system at the iconic pandal.