A significant controversy has erupted in the historical Akbari Gate locality of Chowk in Lucknow surrounding the iconic Tunday Kababi eatery. Religious leader Maulana Kalbe Jawad has leveled serious allegations against the management of the legendary shop, accusing them of illegally encroaching upon Waqf protected land and carrying out unauthorized tunnel like construction inside a 200 year old mosque complex. However, the shop owner alongside the official caretaker of the mosque have firmly refuted these claims, presenting documentation and physical facts to clarify that only routine repair work to address water seepage was undertaken.
Allegations by Maulana Kalbe Jawad and Demands for Executive Action
Maulana Kalbe Jawad publicly raised serious concerns regarding the oldest branch of Tunday Kababi situated near Akbari Gate. According to the Maulana, the land occupied by the eatery forms an integral part of a Waqf protected mosque that dates back two centuries. He asserted that the shop proprietors have forcefully encroached upon the Waqf property and constructed secret, tunnel like passages beneath the structure to expand their operational area illegally. Emphasizing the gravity of the alleged violation, Maulana Kalbe Jawad formally appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to intervene directly in the matter, requesting a comprehensive state investigation and immediate legal action against those responsible for damaging or occupying Waqf assets.
Shop Proprietor Abu Bakr Qureshi Denies Claims and Recounts 1905 Origins
Responding to the allegations, Abu Bakr Qureshi, the current proprietor of the Tunday Kababi shop, categorically dismissed the claims as false and baseless. He stated that the business has been operated by his family across four generations, having been originally established by his maternal grandfather in the year 1905 at the exact same location in Chowk. Qureshi emphasized that the shop occupies the precise footprint of land acquired in 1905 and that no new structural expansion or internal digging has ever taken place over the decades. He explained that recent activities at the shop were strictly limited to basic cleaning, maintenance, and interior decoration. Expressing surprise over the accusations, Qureshi suggested that certain misinformed individuals had deliberately misled Maulana Kalbe Jawad regarding the actual work done on the premises.
Mosque Caretaker Maulana Saif Abbas Clarifies Legal Status and Maintenance
Crucial clarity on the dispute emerged from Maulana Saif Abbas, the Mutawalli (official caretaker) responsible for maintaining the 200 year old mosque. Maulana Saif Abbas explained that the residential living quarters situated above the mosque had been suffering from severe structural wear, causing continuous water leakage into the ground floor shop below. To resolve this operational hindrance for the tenant, a new legal lease agreement was executed four months ago between the Mutawalli and the shop owner following proper legal procedures. Authorized under this agreement, the shop owner merely installed waterproofing measures and applied cement to repair broken and deteriorating sections. The Mutawalli explicitly confirmed that no secret tunnels or illegal alterations were executed and reassured that the historical mosque structure remains completely intact and undisturbed.
Administrative Implications and Current Ground Reality at Akbari Gate
The Akbari Gate Tunday Kababi establishment holds immense cultural and culinary significance in Lucknow, drawing food enthusiasts from across the nation since its founding in 1905. Following the high profile complaint regarding Waqf land, local municipal and administrative authorities have begun monitoring the situation closely. Nevertheless, the statement issued by the mosque's official Mutawalli strongly refutes the narrative of illegal encroachment, placing the activities within the framework of authorized structural maintenance. As the matter rests before Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, an official verification may be conducted by local administration to permanently resolve the controversy and safeguard both Waqf properties and heritage business establishments.
