Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Tipu Sultan Portrait Removed After Nashik Office Controversy
A portrait of Tipu Sultan was placed in a deputy mayor’s office in Malegaon.
Some Hindu organisations and BJP corporators objected to it.
The office stayed closed for nearly a month.
Shaan-e-Hind said this was done to avoid problems between communities during a festival period.
The portrait was later removed after officials gave written instructions.
A copy of the Constitution was placed in the office instead.
Shaan-e-Hind said she would contact the police if people also objected to the Constitution.
She has asked the Bombay High Court to decide whether the portrait can be displayed there.
The court has asked government and municipal authorities to respond, but has not yet heard the petition.
The Tipu Sultan portrait was removed from Malegaon Deputy Mayor Shaan-e-Hind’s office after nearly a month of controversy.
Hindu organisations and BJP corporators had opposed the portrait’s installation.
Shaan-e-Hind said the office was kept closed to protect communal harmony during the festival period.
She said the portrait was removed following written instructions from the administration.
She has petitioned the Bombay High Court, which has sought written responses before hearing the case.
- Who
- Malegaon Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Shaan-e-Hind, Hindu organisations and BJP corporators, and the Bombay High Court.
- What
- A Tipu Sultan portrait was removed from the deputy mayor’s office after a month-long controversy, while a court petition remains pending.
- When
- The portrait was removed after nearly a month; the petition has not yet been heard.
- Where
- The deputy mayor’s office in Malegaon, Nashik district.
- Why
- Shaan-e-Hind said it was removed under written administrative instructions and that the office had been closed to protect communal harmony during the festival period.
Portrait Supporters
Portrait Opponents
Displaying Tipu Sultan
Portrait Supporters
Shaan-e-Hind installed the portrait again and has asked the Bombay High Court to decide whether it can remain in the office.
Portrait Opponents
Hindu organisations and BJP corporators opposed the portrait’s installation.
Handling the controversy
Portrait Supporters
Shaan-e-Hind said the office was closed to prevent disturbance to communal harmony and that she would seek police action if the Constitution was also opposed.
Portrait Opponents
The portrait was removed after written instructions from the administration, following nearly a month of controversy.
- Portrait removed
- A portrait of Tipu Sultan was removed from the deputy mayor’s office.
- Office closure
- The office remained closed for nearly a month.
- Opposition
- Hindu organisations and BJP corporators opposed the portrait’s installation.
- Replacement display
- A copy of the Constitution was placed on the office table, with an original copy displayed in a glass case.
- Additional portraits
- The office displays photographs of 10 historical personalities, along with portraits of Saathi Nihal Ahmed, Abu Azmi and Akhilesh Yadav.
- Court petition
- Shaan-e-Hind approached the Bombay High Court over whether the portrait could be displayed.
- Court status
- The petition has not yet been heard; written responses were sought from the state government, police and municipal administration.