Answer
(Fatwa: 185/157=D)
Imam of mosque should be pious, aware of salah related issues and well versed in reciting the Quran who can discharge the responsibility of Imamah nicely with unity of people. If the condition mentioned in the question about the Imam is true and this is confirmed by majority of the people of mosque and trustees then such person should not lead prayer without permission. The trustees and elder people of the mosque should sit together and try to remove the misunderstandings and get unanimous on the imamah of a person. If the former imam repents of his mistakes, avoids spreading fitnah and if the trustees of the mosque are satisfied then they can reinstate the imam as before, otherwise they can appoint any other person as imam. Second jamat in a mosque is makrooh-e-tahreemi (extremely undesirable) and the undesirability heightens because of doing this act with the intention of evil and mischief. This must be stopped.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband