ASI Covers Aurangzeb’s Tomb With Tin Sheets Amid Tensions Over Demands For Its Removal

The ASI covered Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with tin sheets amid controversy to enhance security.

Tin sheet covering the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb.

Source : ANI

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has covered the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb which is, located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, on Thursday, amid the ongoing controversy in Maharashtra.

Tin sheets were raised on two sides, amid calls for the grave to be removed. The district administration decided to enhance security at the tomb following a visit by Collector Dilip Swami and SP Vinaykumar Rathod along with ASI officials. Tin sheets and wire fencing were installed on two sides of the structure on Wednesday night.

#WATCH | Maharashtra | Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb, located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, covered by Archaeological Survey of India pic.twitter.com/tk9lBGuzD2

— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2025

According to PTI, a circular fence will also be installed around the tomb. "The green net covering two sides of the tomb was in bad shape, and the structure was visible to those visiting the nearby Khwaja Syed Zainuddin Chishti grave. So we have installed tin sheets".

A protest by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb turned violent in Nagpur on Monday.

On Wednesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that contrary to rumours, no 'chadar' or cloth with Quranic verses was burnt during a protest in Nagpur city. He also vowed to dig out from the graves of those who attacked the police during the subsequent violence.

During the Nagpur violence, mobs hurled stones and petrol bombs, injuring 33 police personnel, including the three Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officers. The violence had been planned to disturb social harmony, claimed Fadnavis.

According to the preliminary investigation, Monday's violence was triggered by rumors that a chadar with Quranic verses was burned during a protest led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which was demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

The 17th-century Mughal emperor has drawn attention following the success of the Hindi film Chhaava, which portrays the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was brutally executed on Aurangzeb's orders.