India, Jan. 7 -- The demolition near a century-old mosque at Delhi's Turkman Gate on Wednesday was conducted based on a court directive to remove an illegal banquet hall and diagnostic centre on public land, a top municipal official said, emphasising the Masjid Syed Elahi was untouched.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) deputy commissioner Vivek Aggarwal said that illegal structures were on the land of Ramlila Maidan, a popular venue for festivals, political rallies, and meetings near New Delhi Railway Station.

"This case has been under the purview of the Delhi high court ...the action has been taken as per the court direction," he said. He added that around 36,400 square feet had been encroached upon for one-storey structures of a b...