Gyanvapi row Gyanvapi mosque row: Report of videography, meant for court, made public
Varanasi/IBNS: The report of the videography of Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque was submitted in court on Thursday in connection with a case involving Hindu petitioners' request for access to worship what they claim are idols of Hindu gods and goddesses inside the complex.
A copy of the report, submitted in a sealed envelope, was shared by the lawyers of the petitioners hours later.
The report, as presented in the media, seems to vouch for the presence of Hindu idols and symbols inside the Gyanvapi mosque.
The report shared by the petitioners to the media states symbols of a "Trishul" or trident, lotus engravings and ancient Hindi carvings have been found in the video survey of the mosque complex that exits right next to the iconic Kashi-Vishwanath temple.
Claims of a "Shivling" had already been made public earlier and the official who was responsible for the survey was sacked over the leak to the media, allegedly by a "personal cameraman" hired by him.
The pillars in the basement of the mosque bear engravings of flowers and a 'kalash' (pitcher) while carvings in "ancient Hindi language" have been found on a pillar, said the report.
The team found two large pillars and an arch protruding from the western wall of the mosque which petitioners call remnants of temples.
A round structure of 2.5 feet in height has been noticed in the pond in the mosque complex used for "Wazoo" (purification ritual before namaaz), which petitioners call a "Shivling". However, the mosque committee says it was a fountain.
The report was submitted in three sealed boxes and a chip with hundreds of video clips and photographs.
The Varanasi court will hear the case next Monday after the Supreme Court takes up an appeal against filming in the mosque tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had asked the Varanasi court to adjourn the hearing in the case until Friday evening.
