Police request ASI to examine antiquity factor of Quran copy

“Investigation officer informs that request has been made to ASI to re-examine the seized holy Quran regarding its age,” the court noted.

The judge,however,pointed out that the report does not mention how much time will it take for further probe to ascertain if the book has been in existence for more than 75 years and if it has any literary or aesthetic value.

The report was filed by Joint Commissioner of Police,Crime,in pursuance of the court’s earlier order by which it had pulled up the cops for first seizing the scripture and getting it deposited with the National Archives of India (NAI) on court’s order saying it was an antique piece,and later seeking its release saying it is not an antique as it is not more than 100 years old.

“The Investigating Officer (IO) seems to have hastily arrived at the conclusion that since the holy Quran is not more than 100 years old,it is not covered under the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act,1972 and therefore,no offence (is made out),” the court had then said.

The case involving the holy book dated back to July 6,2011 when the Crime Branch got a tip off that old Delhi resident Azaz Ahmed Shakil would be selling his antique piece of Quran for Rs 1 crore to a person at Rajghat.

Acting on the tip off,police arrested Shakil from Rajghat and seized the holy book.

During interrogation,Shakil had said he was given the book by an acquaintance,now residing abroad,for sale. The court,however,later noted the police did not make any effort to trace Shakil’s acquaintance.

The court had given the book’s custody to NAI on July 15,2011 after the police gave to it NAI’s senior archivist Zakir Hussain’s report that the seized book is a manuscript under the Antiquities Act.

However,the office of the Director General of Archives on June 9,2012,handed over to the police another report saying the scripture was not an antique and on the basis of

this report the police had sought release of the book and discharge of Shakil.

However,the court had pointed out various loopholes in the report and also in the police probe regarding how old was the book.

It has also raised doubts on the basis of police request for release of the book and discharge of the accused.

The court has now asked the Joint CP,crime to monitor the probe and send a periodical report to it.