A video of demolition of Madrasa in Panna, Madhya Pradesh has surfaced on social media. In the video, an Islamic structure is seen being demolished by a group of people. It is claimed that the structure is a madrasa located in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district, and that it was the first Muslim-owned property to be targeted under the newly implemented Waqf Amendment Act.
The Siasat Daily claimed, ‘A madrasa in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district was demolished on Saturday, becoming the first Muslim-owned structure to come under scrutiny under the newly implemented Waqf Amendment Act. The madrasa, located in BD Colony and reportedly standing for nearly 30 years, was alleged by authorities to have been built illegally. With the Act coming into existence, the area now falls under the municipal corporation’s jurisdiction, and hence the construction was deemed illegal. However, the owner claimed that permission had been obtained from the local gram panchayat. The owner decided to demolish the structure himself using a bulldozer, avoiding direct administrative intervention under the newly passed law.’
Congress supporter Rafique Ahmad stated, ‘Today on Constitution Day, action under unconstitutional law by anti-constitutional party. Bulldozer ran on 20 year old madrasa..After the Waqf law was enacted, the first major action was taken in Panna, Madhya Pradesh, illegal madrasa was demolished.’
Millat Times wrote, ‘The first target of the Waqf Act, a 30-year-old madrasa in Panna, Madhya Pradesh was demolished on Saturday, calling it illegal.’
Observer Post, India TV, and Muslim Spaces shared a similar claim.
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We began our fact-checking process by looking for relevant media reports. We found a Dainik Bhaskar report published on April 13, 2025, which stated, ‘An illegal madrasa built on government land in Ward No. 26, BD Colony of Panna, Madhya Pradesh, was demolished by the administration. The action was taken following complaints by Waqf Board District President Abdul Hameed (alias Bati) and Salim Khan. Initially, madrasa operator Abdul Rauf and a few others had begun demolishing the structure themselves. However, on Saturday night, the administration carried out a complete demolition. Senior officials, including the ADM, Tehsildar, and the municipal team, arrived at the site and brought down the entire building using a bulldozer.’
The report further said, ‘According to Tehsildar Akhilesh Prajapati, an investigation into the land was conducted a month ago. The inquiry confirmed that the land belonged to the government. Following this, a notice was issued to the madrasa operator to remove the encroachment.’
Additionally, we found a Patrika report published on April 15, 2025. The report reads, ‘In Madhya Pradesh’s Panna city, a 20-year-old madrasa located in BD Colony was demolished by the district administration. What makes the case particularly notable is that members of the Muslim community itself filed the complaint about the madrasa’s construction on government land. Now, Collector Suresh Kumar has issued an important clarification regarding the action. Following the demolition, there were claims that the authorities had targeted Waqf property. However, Collector Suresh Kumar clarified that the action was not taken against Waqf property but because the madrasa had been built illegally on government land.’
Patrika further reported, ‘According to the district administration, a formal investigation was carried out after receiving the complaint. The probe confirmed that the construction was indeed on state-owned land, not private or Waqf property. A notice was then issued to the madrasa operator, requesting an explanation and compliance, which initiated the demolition process. After receiving the notice, the madrasa operator voluntarily began dismantling a significant portion of the building. However, as the demolition remained incomplete, the district administration, accompanied by a large police force, returned with earth-moving equipment (JCBs) and razed the entire structure on Saturday night.’
The report also noted, ‘Collector Suresh Kumar confirmed that the structure was found to be illegally constructed on government land and reiterated that it had no connection to Waqf law or Waqf property. The sole reason for its demolition, he emphasized, was that it was an unauthorized structure on public land.’
Hence, the claim that the Madhya Pradesh government demolished a Waqf-owned madrasa after the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill is false. The madrasa in question was built on government land. Upon acknowledging this, the madrasa operator voluntarily began its demolition, although he was unable to complete it. The remaining structure was demolished by the administration using JCBs. Furthermore, the investigation into the madrasa was initiated a month prior to the passing of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament, which took place on April 4, 2025.
| Claim | A madrassa was demolished in Madhya Pradesh as the first act of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 2025. |
| Claimed by | Siasat Daily, Millat Times, Observer Post, Muslim Space, India Tv and Others |
| Fact Check | The demolition of the madrassa in Panna, Madhya Pradesh, is unrelated to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 2025. The madrassa was demolished because it was constructed on government land, not waqf property. |
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