HYDERABAD: The court of civil judge and judicial magistrate-X on Monday admitted for trial the final challan submitted by the Fort police against an accused on charges of damaging a boundary wall of Pucca Qila, a protected heritage site. The police, however, had deleted sections 427, and 34 PPC, 18 and 22 of Antiquity Act 1975, which dealt with illegal occupation of heritage site, before submitting it to the court on July 2.

Since the judge was on leave, the in-charge judge accepted the challan on Monday.

In the challan, investigating officer of the case, Rao Munawar, accused Maqsood Sarwari of damaging the Pucca Qila wall and argued the accused should, therefore, stand trial for the offence.

The officer said the lease document of the plot (located inside the fort premises for which Sarwari pulled the fort wall to widen it) was prepared by Sarwari who then sold the plot to Shoukat.

The Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the city survey office had verified its property but the archaeology department laid claim to the plot, he said.

It should, therefore, be decided by a civil court. A case against Sarwari was lodged on May 25 after the fort wall was demolished by Shoukat.

Abdul Haq Bhambhro, deputy director of the culture, tourism, antiquities and archaeology department, had informed the court during submission of challan, that Sarwari had got a fake letter of archaeology department prepared in 1986 to claim his right over lease of land. This letter had already been proved as fake, he added.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2015

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