Indian Court Accepts Hindu Priest’s Petition for Hearing

In a notable case in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, a person claiming to be an RTI activist has filed a petition in court asserting that a temple exists at the site of the historic Upper Kot Jamia Mosque, the Urdu Siasat published yesterday.

According to media reports, Kesho Dev Gautam, a leader of the Anti-Corruption Sena and a Hindu priest, has made a controversial claim regarding the grand Upper Kot Jamia Mosque.

Speaking to the media, Kesho Dev Gautam stated that this mosque was built on the site of an ancient Shiva temple, and a request has now been filed in the civil court to restore the temple. Interestingly, the court has accepted this petition and scheduled the next hearing for February 15, 2025.

The priest presented himself as a knowledgeable historian, claiming that a fort once existed in the Upper Kot area, which was significant from both cultural and religious perspectives. He mentioned that there was a Shiva temple at this location, which was allegedly converted into the Jamia Mosque later on. Gautam also revealed that he has obtained extensive information from the Archaeological Department and the Municipal Corporation through the RTI process.