The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a detailed status report in two weeks in a case related to the alleged morphing of a photograph of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Union Minister of Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla, which was carried in an Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) publication. Ms. Heptulla was heading the ICCR when the book was published.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru of the High Court, who had earlier asked the CBI to file its report by Friday, said the detailed status report should specifically answer all the queries raised in a writ petition seeking directions to bring to a logical end the preliminary enquiry into the case. The Court posted the matter for further hearing on December 16.
Other respondents in the case, filed by Firoz Bakht Ahmed, grandnephew of Maulana Azad, are the Union Government and the ICCR. Ms. Heptulla appeared with Maulana Azad – who was the country’s first Education Minister – in the photo, which was later withdrawn.
The petitioner alleged that the photo, showing Ms. Heptulla seated with Maulana Azad after her graduation, was morphed as Ms. Heptulla had graduated in May 1958, three months after the Maulana’s death. The publication, since withdrawn, was titled “Journey of a Legend: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 1888-1958”.
