The Bombay Riots usually refers to the riots in Mumbai, in December 1992 and January 1993, in which around 900 people died. An investigative commission was formed under Justice B.N. Srikrishna, but the recommendations of the Inquiry were not enforced. The riots were followed by a retaliatory 12 March 1993 Bombay Bombings, perpetuated by Muslim criminal group with alleged help of ganglord Dawood Ibrahim and his D-Company syndicate, in which 250 people, mostly Hindus, died.

According to the SriKrishna report, the immediate causes of the communal riots on 6 December 1992 were: (a) the demolition of Babri Masjid, (b) the aggravation of Muslim sentiments by the Hindus with their celebration rallies and (c) the insensitive and harsh approach of the police while handling the protesting mobs which initially were not violent.

The riots started as a result of communal tension prevailing in the city after the Babri Mosque demolition on 6 December 1992. This was followed by celebratory processions by Shiv Sena and BJP activists and targeting of Muslim localities. It is commonly believed that the riots occurred in two phases. The first was mainly a Muslim backlash as a result of the Babri Masjid demolition in the week immediately succeeding 6 December 1992 led by Hindu hard-line elements in the city of Ayodhya.