The sensitive case involving the alleged desecration of Islamic holy scriptures at a mosque in Santibastwad village has been officially transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a more detailed and specialised investigation, Commissioner of Police Bhushan Borse announced during a press conference held on Sunday.
According to police reports, the incident occurred on the morning of May 12 at around 10:15 AM, when unidentified miscreants entered the basement prayer hall of a newly constructed mosque in Santibastwad village. They allegedly took away four holy books, including two copies of the Quran and a headset, placed them on land belonging to a person named Gundoji located to the west of the mosque, desecrated the items by placing slippers on them, and set them on fire. The act is believed to have been carried out to hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community, resulting in property damage estimated at around ₹5,000.
Following the complaint filed by Mohammad Nisara Gaussaba, Tahsildar of Santibastwad, at 6:30 PM on the same day, a case was registered at Belagavi Rural Police Station as Crime No. 100/2025. The charges were registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, including Sections 329(4), 326(2), 298, 299, 196(1)(B), 448, 435, 295, 295(2), and 153(A) of the Indian Penal Code for offenses related to religious hatred, criminal trespass, arson, and destruction of sacred property.
Initially, Belagavi Rural Police took up the investigation and multiple police teams were formed under the leadership of then Police Commissioner Yada Martin. However, with his recent transfer, the newly appointed Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase reviewed the case and announced that, due to its sensitive nature and lack of conclusive progress, the investigation has now been officially handed over to the CID.
DSP Suleman Tahsildar and his team from the CID inspected the site and have begun their investigation. Commissioner Borse assured full cooperation from the Belagavi Police Commissionerate to support the CID in the probe.
The incident, which caused unrest both in Santibastwad village and parts of Belagavi city, has sparked wider concerns about communal harmony. Police officials acknowledged the complexity of the case, the need for technical analysis, and the importance of gathering digital and forensic evidence, which prompted the transfer of the investigation to a more specialized agency.
Authorities have urged all communities to maintain peace and allow the investigative process to proceed without interference.
Going by my experience, it appears as though the Police act only if there is a public outcry or when they are “influenced”… Otherwise, God save us… No wonder crimes are repeated with impunity