After the Allahabad High Court rejected a petition seeking to open the doors of 22 underground cells in Taj Mahal, the Archaeological Survey of India re-released some photographs of these rooms. The ASI has reiterated that there is nothing hidden or special in these cells.
The demand for opening the locked rooms in the basement of the Taj Mahal was based on the speculations that there is something related to the "true history" of the monument hidden in there.
Rajneesh Singh, media in-charge of the BJP's Ayodhya unit, filed a writ petition contending that the Taj Mahal was a Shiva Temple known as Tejo Mahalaya. He appealed to the court to order a fact-finding mission into the "history" of the mughal era monument. The plea sought to open the doors of the basement rooms to see "the truth, whatever it is". The government was asked to publish the "real history" of Taj Mahal.
Following the court's rejection, ASI officials revealed that there is no such secret hidden in the underground cells. These rooms are not unique to Taj Mahal and they are just part of the building. Several Mughal-era mausoleums including Humayun's Tomb have similar structures.
Four photographs of the rooms in question were published in ASI's newsletter in January. It was republished on its website on May 5. The same information was tweeted on its official handle on May 9.
Every month, ASI officials highlight the work done to the Delhi headquarters. A part of the report is then included in the organisation's newsletter. It details the conservation work done between December 2021 and February 2022.
An official from Agra Circle told The Indian Express that a lot more work was done in the monument and photographs were taken. They may be published in the next newsletter as per the editorial decision.