Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Manoj Jarange Patil Heads to Mumbai Amid Heavy Police Deployment
Manoj Jarange Patil is traveling from Jalna to Mumbai to demand reservation for the Maratha community.
He has been fasting for 18 days.
Patil says he will protest by himself at Azad Maidan.
He plans to travel with only a few vehicles and medical ambulances.
Police did not give permission for a large protest.
They are worried that supporters may gather along the way and create a bigger crowd.
Many police officers and State Reserve Police Force personnel have been placed along the route.
A previous protest in Mumbai caused blocked roads and traffic problems.
The Bombay High Court had criticized how that earlier situation was handled.
Manoj Jarange Patil began traveling from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna toward Mumbai on the 18th day of his hunger strike.
He said he would protest alone at Azad Maidan with a limited group, using two private vehicles and two cardiac ambulances.
Police denied permission for the protest, citing possible law-and-order problems during the festive season.
Officials deployed protection personnel, senior officers, and a large State Reserve Police Force contingent along his route.
Authorities are concerned that supporters gathering to welcome Patil could quickly develop into a larger mobilisation, following disruptions during his 2025 Mumbai protest.
- Who
- Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil, police, and potential Maratha supporters.
- What
- Patil is traveling to Mumbai for a solo protest demanding reservation for the Maratha community while police deploy forces along his route.
- When
- The journey began on September 15, 2026, on the 18th day of Patil's hunger strike.
- Where
- From Antarwali Sarati in Jalna, through the route to Mumbai, with the planned protest at Azad Maidan.
- Why
- Patil is seeking Maratha reservation; police cited possible law-and-order problems from supporter mobilisation, especially during the festive season.
Patil and Supporters
Police and Administration
Reservation demand
Patil and Supporters
Manoj Jarange Patil is traveling to Mumbai and planning a protest at Azad Maidan to demand reservation for the Maratha community.
Police and Administration
The administration has not permitted the protest, citing potential law-and-order problems linked to a large gathering.
Size of the mobilisation
Patil and Supporters
Patil says he will sit in protest alone and travel with a limited group of vehicles and ambulances.
Police and Administration
Police believe supporters could gather along the route and that a welcoming group could quickly become a larger mobilisation.
Impact on Mumbai
Patil and Supporters
The current plan is presented as a limited protest rather than a large mobilisation.
Police and Administration
Authorities are concerned about a repeat of the 2025 protest, when roads were blocked, traffic was disrupted, and citizens faced inconvenience.
- Protest leader
- Manoj Jarange Patil
- Starting point
- Antarwali Sarati, Jalna, Marathwada
- Planned destination
- Azad Maidan, Mumbai
- Hunger strike duration
- 18 days when the journey began
- Planned travel group
- Two private vehicles and two cardiac ambulances
- Police deployment
- A protection officer and guard, two to three senior officials, and a large State Reserve Police Force contingent
- Previous Mumbai protest
- The 2025 protest blocked roads and disrupted traffic, and the Bombay High Court expressed displeasure over the administration's handling