New petition claims Keshav’s priceless idol buried in Agra’s Red Fort

While the court is considering the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah issue in Mathura, the Hindu side’s counsel Mahendra Pratap has filed another petition in the case, requesting a survey of the Agra Red Fort. According to the plea, Aurangzeb demolished the Sri Krishna temple in Mathura in 1960 and took the statues and treasures to the Red Fort in Agra.

The legendary, magnificent, and gem-studded statue of Keshav Dev, according to the petition, is buried beneath the stairs of Begum Sahiba Masjid in the Red Fort. The petition requested an inspection of the fort, as well as the removal and return of the statue and valuables from the stairwell. Hindu worshipers are allegedly being humiliated by the presence of statues beneath the stairwell. The suit, which was filed in the civil court of Mathura, is expected to be heard today. The first hearing in the Srikrishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Eidgah dispute case took place in the district judge’s court on Thursday.

The petition will be heard again on July 1 by the Senior Division Judge. In September 2020, a petition in the Srikrishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi EIdgah controversy was filed in court.

The petition was heard two years later when the district court ruled that it was appropriate to submit before the court. Advocate Mahendra Singh has referenced Aurangzeb’s top courtier Sachi Mustek Khan’s book ‘Masir-e-Alam Giri’ in support of his assertion that the statue was buried in Agra Fort. The petition names as parties the Director General Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Superintendent Archaeological Survey of India Agra, Director Archaeological Survey of India, and the Central Secretary.