Official sacked by court says Sheshnag idol found inside Gyanvapi complex

Several sculptures of gods and goddesses along with other structures related to Hindu motifs were seen in the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, said advocate Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was appointed commissioner by a Varanasi court to survey the Gyanvapi-Gauri Shringar complex but was later removed for leaking the information.

The report was submitted to court by Mishra on Wednesday.

The report submitted by Mishra stated, "Outside the barricading of the disputed area, the ruins of the old temple were found in which sculptures of gods and goddesses and patterns of lotus were seen. In the middle, stone sculptures of Sheshnag and ‘Nag phan’ like patterns were seen. All the slabs seemed to be part of a big edifice."

A local court had removed Mishra on Tuesday, stating that he had been "highly irresponsible" in executing the work.

"Further four idol like structures with "Sinduri" mark were observed. It seemed that arrangements for lighting diyas were there. The stone slabs with artistic patterns were kept in the west wall behind the mosque appeared to be in continuity with the big structure," the report said.

The report by Mishra also mentioned that the three-four sculptures with Sindoor marks and 'Choukhat' like stone slab are believed to be 'Sringar Gouri'.

The Varanasi court-appointed commission, which conducted the survey of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex, submitted its report on Thursday after a two-day extension.

The three-day-long court-monitored videography survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi concluded on Monday.

The Hindu petitioner in the case, Sohan Lal Arya, on Monday claimed that the committee found a Shivling at the complex. Arya, who accompanied the commission for the mosque survey, said they have found "conclusive evidence".

After the conclusion of the survey, the Varanasi court ordered the district magistrate of Varanasi, Kaushal Raj Sharma, "to seal the area where the Shivling was found and to bar people from going to the place."

Hearing the Gyanvapi mosque case on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the Varanasi district magistrate to ensure the area where a Shivling was purportedly found is protected without obstructing the Muslim community's right to worship.