After armoury, work to open Khasbagh Palace’s strong room starts

Rampur: The onerous task to throw open the locks of strong room of Khasbagh Palace in Rampur kick-started in presence of court-appointed commissioners and family members of erstwhile Rampur Nawab on Friday. It comes eight months after the Supreme Court passed judgment for the division of the property among the family members of the erstwhile Nawab.

The locks of armoury were opened on Monday to count the weapons. Carved vintage guns, gem-studded swords, knives with handles made of precious stones were found there.

On Friday, workers tried to cut open one of the iron sheets shielding the strong room. There are several such irons sheets and locks protecting the “treasure” inside the strong room.

One of the heirs, Nawab Kazim Ali Khan, alleged that the lock of the strong room was found “unlocked”.

The process to open the strong room will resume soon. “On February 10, the armoury of Khasbagh Palace will again be reopened for the counting of the weapons," Ali said.

Khasbagh Palace is under the possession of Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan alias Murad Mian and his elder sister Shahzadi Naghat Abedi, both son and daughters of the late Nawab Murtuza Ali Khan.