Ms. Desai entered the shrine along with other female devotees in line with proper procedure and stopped just short of the inner sanctum.

Bhumata Ranragini Brigade leader Trupti Desai visited the Haji Ali dargah early on Thursday morning and left after offering prayers. Senior Mumbai Police officials said Ms. Desai contacted them on Wednesday and informed them that she wished to visit the dargah on Thursday morning. Police sources said that she first sought permission to go to the dargah along with a large group of supporters, like she had on April 28.

“We conveyed to her that we would help her out in every way if she wanted to enter as any other devotee, but would not allow another display outside the dargah. We also had orders to make sure that she was not stopped from entering the dargah if she was following the prevailing tradition,” a police officer told The Hindu.

Finally, Ms Desai visited the dargah with three members of the brigade,and stopped just short of the inner sanctum.

“Today I entered Haji Ali Dargah. I went till the point where women were allowed to go & offered prayers,” news agency ANI quoted Trupti Desai. “I prayed that women must be allowed to enter inner sanctum. We saw where we are allowed till and till where men go, in 15 days trustees should allow women in, else we will protest,” she said.

“Ms Desai visited the dargah at 6 am on Thursday and left after offering prayers. There is already security at the dargah, we also deployed some extra personnel,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti.