Mumbai: Man assaulted over loud music, firecrackers during Ganpati immersion

A 29-year-old man was allegedly assaulted and suffered a severe nose injury after objecting to loud music and firecrackers during a Ganpati idol immersion procession in Mumbai’s Goregaon East, police said on Friday. Four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The assault took place on Tuesday morning outside Pradhan Society on Gotewadi Road, under the jurisdiction of Vanrai police station.

According to police, Advait Arun Madkaikar objected to a group playing dhol-tasha and bursting firecrackers outside his residential society. He began recording the group on his phone, following which an argument broke out.

“One of the men being filmed punched Madkaikar in the face, while three others kicked him,” a police official said. Madkaikar sustained a serious nose injury and required surgery.

Following his complaint, police registered a case on Wednesday and arrested four people, including the driver of the vehicle carrying the Ganpati idol.

The accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to voluntarily causing grievous hurt, intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace, common intention and other offences, police said.

A video recorded by Madkaikar showing his injuries later circulated widely on social media.

The incident comes amid renewed debate in Maharashtra over the use of high-volume sound systems, including DJs, during Ganpati celebrations. Activists and residents in several cities have raised concerns over noise levels during religious processions, citing the potential impact on public health and alleging violations of prescribed noise pollution limits.

Police have not indicated that the dispute was related to the religious procession itself, with the case centred on the alleged assault following Madkaikar’s objection to the noise and firecrackers.

with inputs from PTI