Supreme Court Orders CBI Inquiry into Gumti Monument

The Supreme Court of India has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the controversial status of the Shaikh Ali 'Gumti' monument in Defence Colony, New Delhi, which was initially recommended for protection by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2004 but later dismissed in 2008 due to alleged alterations made by the Defence Colony Welfare Association (DCWA). The court expressed surprise at the reversal of the ASI and Central Government's position, raising doubts about their bona fides regarding the protection process. The enquiry will explore the circumstances of the Gumti's occupation by the DCWA since 1963, the reasons behind the change in stance, and the unauthorized modifications made to the structure. The Gumti is believed to be over 500 years old, and the court noted discrepancies in how the proposal for its protection was handled. This inquiry follows a failed plea at the Delhi High Court to protect the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The CBI has been directed to file a report on the investigation's progress within two months.