AGRA: Contrary to claims made in a petition to the Lucknow HC seeking unlocking of the Taj Mahal's "22 permanently locked rooms", many in its basement, "as they could be housing Hindu idols from ancient times", top Archaeological Survey of India officials told TOI on Thursday that the contention in the plea is wrong on both counts.
One, these rooms - officially called "cells" - are "not permanently closed" and they were only recently opened for conservation work. And that all records scrutinised so far over the years "have not pointed to the presence of any idols".
