Meet the modern-day ‘Mughal Prince’ who claims to own the Taj Mahal

It was in 1947, when India officially ended its monarchy and became a republic, but descendants of former royal families still hold social and political influence. Some have adapted to the modern life, while others continue to make headlines— like Prince Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy, who claims to be the sixth-generation heir of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor.

But it's not just his royal lineage that keeps him in the spotlight. Prince Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy has also made bold claims over some of India's most famous historical sites, including the Taj Mahal! Read on to know more about his controversial claims:

The Taj Mahal dispute

The Taj Mahal

Prince Tucy insists that he is the rightful owner of the Taj Mahal, which is one of the seven wonders of the world. The iconic Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Not just this, Prince Tucy even submitted a DNA report in court to back his claim. In 2019, he challenged Princess Diya Kumari of Jaipur's royal family, demanding that she reveal documents that her family supposedly holds about the Taj Mahal’s ownership.

The Ayodhya land controversyPrinnce Tucy was also a part of the Ayodhya land dispute, where he opposed the Waqf board’s claim to the site of the Babri Masjid. He argued that if the land truly belonged to Babur, then since he is as a Mughal descendant, it should be his. Surprisingly, he supported the construction of the Ram Temple and even offered a golden brick for the project!

Guardian of Aurangzeb’s graveApart from these shocking claims, Prince Tucy also serves as the caretaker of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra. Concerns over vandalism at the site led him to petition the President of India, urging the government's protection for the grave.

A Mughal heir in the digital agePrince Tucy projects himself as a modern-day Mughal prince. Often seen dressed in traditional royal attire, his social media is filled with images reinforcing his royal lineage thus keeping his claims of being a modern-day Mughal prince.

While his assertions are widely debated, one thing is certain: Prince Tucy knows how to keep the Mughal history alive and in public discussions.

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