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Synopsis

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday heard the petition filed that alleges that an idol of Lord Krishna is buried beneath the stairs of Jama Masjid in Agra. The petitioner, Mahendra Kumar Singh, has called for a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and an investigation by an Advocate Commissioner.

Initially, this petition was included in the 18 petitions of the club for hearing by the high court, which the court has heard together. But due to the issue of this petition (suit number three) being different from other petitions, the high court separated it from the hearing.

The bench of Justice Mayank Kumar Jain noted that an application (A-5) was moved on behalf of plaintiffs to direct the respondent-authority to make S.I.T Report, as well as archeological survey by the competent authority and Advocate Commissioner, be also appointed to make S.I.T report as well as an archeological survey by the competent authority.

"Sri Manoj Kumar Singh, learned counsel for the defendants may file reply to this application by the date fixed," court ordered while posting the matter next on August 5, 2024.

During the hearing, the Committee of Management Shahi Masjid Idgah requested to impleade in the case.

Petitioner Mahendra Pratap Singh, representing his case via video conferencing, presented historical evidence to support his claims. He asserted that in 1670, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb demolished the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and buried the gold-studded idol of Lord Krishna under the mosque's stairs to undermine Hindu faith.

Singh's prayer is that the idol be excavated and reinstalled at the original temple site in Mathura.

Singh, who heads the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Nyas, cited various historical texts, including Sakhi Mustaq Khan's "Masre Alamgiri," FS Grous's "Mathura Memoir," "Mathura Gazetteer," and "Aurangzeb Nama," to substantiate his claim that the idol was buried by Aurangzeb in 1670.

Case Title: Thakur Keshav Dev Ji, Maharaj Virajman Mandir Katra Keshavdev And 2 Others V. Union Of India And 3 Others