Agra: The demolition work at the 17th-century Mubarak Manzil, a Mughal heritage site also known as “Aurangzeb’s Haveli” along the Yamuna, allegedly by an Agra-based builder with “political connections”, was halted on Friday following orders issued by the DM to “maintain status quo at the site”. Revenue department officials have also launched a detailed probe on the “land records”.
TOI had reported in detail about the incident that Agra residents as well as historians have termed “shocking”. A team led by SDM Sachin Rajput along with officials from ASI, state archaeology department and police also visited the site on Friday.
Agra DM, Aravind Mallappa Bangari, told TOI: “Entire matter is being probed in detail. Officials conducted a spot inspection and will present a report on its findings. Status quo should be maintained. Claims of parties occupying the property will be verified during the probe.”
Locals claimed the builder, who has now “fled”, had used bulldozers to pull down the centuries-old structure. He had political backing, they alleged. Meanwhile, taking a dig, ex-CM Akhilesh Yadav shared the TOI report on Friday and wrote: “If the ASI does not wake up, then those running it will bulldoze its reputation as well.”
In Sept, 2024, the state archaeological department had issued a notification calling for objections to the site being declared a protected monument within a month, but “none were raised”. And two weeks ago, officials from Lucknow visited the site to “initiate preservation measures”. However, demolition began shortly after their visit, leaving the historic haveli in ruins.
Local resident, Kapil Vajpayee, told TOI: “About 70% of the structure has already been destroyed. I’d filed several complaints with authorities, but no action was taken. The demolition was carried out by the builder in connivance with police and officials to grab 20,000 square feet of historic land. Next week, we’ll file a PIL in the high court.”
The builder also allegedly prepared “legal papers” to claim ownership over the land, locals claimed.
British archaeologist ACL Carlleyle in his report for the year 1971-92 stated: “Mubarik Manzal is now used as the custom house or the head office of the salt department in Agra. It is situated at the end of the Bailanganj Road, close to the Ghat Road which runs along the bank of the river. It was built by Aurangzib Alamgir on the spot on which he rested in Agra on his return from the great battle in which he defeated his brother Dara Shikoh, and which battle took place somewhere between Samonghar and Fatehabad…”
It further mentioned, “Mubarik Manzal is a large rectangular building of an oblong shape, 171 feet in length by 84 feet in breadth, exclusive of the projections of the towers at the corners. It has a fine octagonal tower at each corner, each of which is surmounted by a pillared cupola which rises above the roof of the building. The building is three-storeyed…”
He added: “There is a beautiful colonnade or pillared verandah on the east side of the building (ground floor) composed of fluted pillars, with engrailed arches rising from and between them. The west wall has 15 openings through it. The south end has at present three doorways in it. On the level of the second storey, exteriorly, a covered-in corridor or verandah, with plain arches opening outwards, now runs along its sides…”
“Within the building, towards the middle of its inner western side, there is a compartment of the building which is said originally to have been used as a ‘masjid’. A ground plan of this building will accompany this report; but it is right that I should here state that the building has been altered in order to turn it into a custom house,” Carlleyle’s report stated.
TOI had reported in detail about the incident that Agra residents as well as historians have termed “shocking”. A team led by SDM Sachin Rajput along with officials from ASI, state archaeology department and police also visited the site on Friday.
Agra DM, Aravind Mallappa Bangari, told TOI: “Entire matter is being probed in detail. Officials conducted a spot inspection and will present a report on its findings. Status quo should be maintained. Claims of parties occupying the property will be verified during the probe.”
Locals claimed the builder, who has now “fled”, had used bulldozers to pull down the centuries-old structure. He had political backing, they alleged. Meanwhile, taking a dig, ex-CM Akhilesh Yadav shared the TOI report on Friday and wrote: “If the ASI does not wake up, then those running it will bulldoze its reputation as well.”
In Sept, 2024, the state archaeological department had issued a notification calling for objections to the site being declared a protected monument within a month, but “none were raised”. And two weeks ago, officials from Lucknow visited the site to “initiate preservation measures”. However, demolition began shortly after their visit, leaving the historic haveli in ruins.
Local resident, Kapil Vajpayee, told TOI: “About 70% of the structure has already been destroyed. I’d filed several complaints with authorities, but no action was taken. The demolition was carried out by the builder in connivance with police and officials to grab 20,000 square feet of historic land. Next week, we’ll file a PIL in the high court.”
The builder also allegedly prepared “legal papers” to claim ownership over the land, locals claimed.
British archaeologist ACL Carlleyle in his report for the year 1971-92 stated: “Mubarik Manzal is now used as the custom house or the head office of the salt department in Agra. It is situated at the end of the Bailanganj Road, close to the Ghat Road which runs along the bank of the river. It was built by Aurangzib Alamgir on the spot on which he rested in Agra on his return from the great battle in which he defeated his brother Dara Shikoh, and which battle took place somewhere between Samonghar and Fatehabad…”
It further mentioned, “Mubarik Manzal is a large rectangular building of an oblong shape, 171 feet in length by 84 feet in breadth, exclusive of the projections of the towers at the corners. It has a fine octagonal tower at each corner, each of which is surmounted by a pillared cupola which rises above the roof of the building. The building is three-storeyed…”
He added: “There is a beautiful colonnade or pillared verandah on the east side of the building (ground floor) composed of fluted pillars, with engrailed arches rising from and between them. The west wall has 15 openings through it. The south end has at present three doorways in it. On the level of the second storey, exteriorly, a covered-in corridor or verandah, with plain arches opening outwards, now runs along its sides…”
“Within the building, towards the middle of its inner western side, there is a compartment of the building which is said originally to have been used as a ‘masjid’. A ground plan of this building will accompany this report; but it is right that I should here state that the building has been altered in order to turn it into a custom house,” Carlleyle’s report stated.
