Waqf Act challenger claims he is being spied upon, files complaint with Mumbai police

Mumbai: A Mumbai resident, who is among the petitioners to challenge the validity of the new Waqf Act in the Supreme Court, has filed a police complaint alleging he was being spied upon by unidentified persons and faces a threat to his life, an official said on Thursday.

According to the official, the petitioner, Jameel Merchant, filed the complaint with the Malvani police station in suburban Mumbai on Wednesday and sought security for himself and his family members.

In support of his claim, Merchant has assured to furnish CCTV footage, said the official.

In the complaint, he alleged that over the past few days, certain unknown individuals have been keeping a watch on him, his residence and office.

The activities of these unknown persons increase during the night hours when they closely monitor his entry and exit. These individuals sometimes also mount surveillance of his building compound, the complainant told the police.

In the complaint submitted to the Malvani police station's senior inspector, Merchant said he clearly feels a threat to his life.

"I have serious apprehension that my life is in danger and someone may be plotting to trap me in a false or fabricated case. These ongoing suspicious activities suggest a coordinated attempt to intimidate or harm me or my family members, either physically or through misuse of official authority," he alleged in the three-page complaint.

"We have received the complaint and are verifying the facts," a Malvani police official said.

The Centre notified the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 after it got President Droupadi Murmu’s assent on April 5. The constitutional validity of the new law has been challenged in the apex court.

The Act aims to modernize and streamline the management of Waqf properties in the country by addressing issues related to their administration and governance. Waqf refers to personal property -- moveable or immovable -- that is donated by Muslims for religious or charitable purposes.