NajmaHeptullaPhotoMorphingCaseisaCriminalWritPetition(7003/2014)filed

byMaulanaAzad'sGrandNephewinDelhiHighCourt.NajmaHeptullaisguiltyof
systematicallyfalsifyingIndianHistory.ThiscaseisthetipoftheIceBerg.The
Case has been sub judice for last 11 years , largely because of vested Political
Interests,herpartnersinCrimeandthosebeingblackmailedbyherhaveusedthe
systemtoprotecther.ThisGrouphasbeenCreatedsothatJurists/LegalPractitioners
,PressandInterestedMembersofthePubliccankeeptrackofit'sprogressoverlast
10Years.TheNextdateisFeb292016.
On 29th of March 2005 , Ten Years ago , Ajay Gupta , the Versatile
Programme Director of ICCR , walked into my room on the first Floor of Azad
Bhawan . Ajay had been associated with the JP Movement of 1977 as
Comrade in Arms of Prakashvir Shastri , the legendary Orator and
Parliamentarian .He had a copy of the book 'Journey of a Legend ' in hand .
The book had been in the making for about Two Years . Prof Syeda Hameed ,
who had edited a similar volume on Zakir Hussain , and was the Editor of the
book had resigned half way . Reasons were not known . Most of the Work had
been completed by Arvinder Suri , a talented book designer from Design
Workshop , was made to leave midway by Najma Heptulla , for reasons at
best mysterious. Ajay Shouri , who had been awarded the work for Publishing
the book after Arvinder left was also made to leave for reasons one could not
fathom. All this was about to become clear as Ajay smugly kept the newly
printed book on my table .
He pointed to the photo of a beaming Najma Heptulla , ensconced on a Sofa
with Maulana Azad , purportedly in what is Vice President M H Ansari's
residence today .
'Sir !' Said Ajay Gupta . ' Drama is afoot' .

What happened ? I asked Ajay ?

Ajay is a collector of historical documents . And as if he were Archimedes , he
smiled and said , 'Don't you think something is fishy about this book ? What ?
I asked , looking at the beaming Najma and Maulana looking at each other .
" You have seen this picture . Now turn to page 79 ."
I did . And here was Shah of Iran sitting with the Maulana on the Same Sofa .
The Maulana was strikingly familiar . Because the Maulana on Page One and
79 was unchanged, as if a moment etched in eternity .
What do you think ? I asked Ajay . ' Is the Najma Photo a Morph ?
Bisht Sahib thinks it is an impossible Photo .
Bisht was the son of Maulana's Chauffeur . And had been encouraged to
study and make his way up in life by Maulana Himself . As a young man ,
Bisht had grown up under the same roof as Maulana . He was a part of
Maulana's Household . He was known for his probity .
I called Bisht .
Sir ! Said Bisht : Maulana was sick and tired of people landing up at his door
claiming to be his relatives . I remembered Najma as somebody who was
never allowed to meet him as she would end up at his door claiming to be his
niece . She was 18 at the time and had two Chotis . This is an impossible
Photo .
This had me worried . I had repeatedly emphasized to Najma regarding
ensuring the authenticity of Historical records during the course of the making

of the book . I was aware of the Controversy about the last 30 pages of ' India
Wins Freedom ' Maulana's Biography . And as to how they were sanitised .
My first inclination was to call up Najma . But I thought I must bring it to the
notice of my Director General first . The Problem was that he was on his way
to Kabul on the inaugural flight of Ariana . And Najma was keen to have the
book released on April 17th by Musharraf , who was about to visit Delhi for a
Day of Cricket Diplomacy at the Invitation of Manmohan Singh . And the
function was expected to be held in Firoz Shah Kotla .
Releasing a book with morphed Photos in a jampacked Stadium ?
I was worried . Very very worried .

A full day had elapsed . It would be a few days before DG ICCR would return
from Kabul . And the last minute rush for Financial Year Closing was enough
to occupy attention .
It was only in the evening that I found time to review the sequence of Events in
making of the Journey of a Legend .
It all started on March 20 2003 with a meeting between Najma Heptulla and
Sarvajit Chakravarty , our present Ambassador to Slovenia , who headed the
Publication Unit of ICCR at the time . The meeting was at her Residence in 4
Akbar Road . It was decided to Publish 3 Seminal Works on Maulana Azad .
First would be a Transliteration/ Translation of Maulana's seminal Work
Tarjamanul Quran by Professor Akhtarul Wasey . The Second , a book on
Maulana in Parliament by DR Goyal . And Third , a Coffee Table Book , A
Collector's item on Life and Times Of Maulana . His Life in Photographs and

Quotations . This would be an Authentic Publication on his life . Najma Herself

would supervise the work of a Three Member Editorial Board comprising Dr
Syeda Hameed , DR Goyal and Prof . Akhtarul Wasey .
My mind went through the release function of Tarjmanul Quran at 7 RCR . Atal
Bihari Vajpayee had done the honours at Panchvati . With Advani and Najma
at his side . My friend with the Golden Voice , Gazala Amin and I conducted
the function . It was considered to be a seminal Work which would help the
process of Interfaith Dialogue in India . Every Editor worth his salt had
descended at 7 RCR for the function including Dilip Padgaonkar , the man
who did the second most important job in India once upon a time .
The Coffee Table Book was to be a work highlighting Maulana's contribution to
making of an Independent India. Najma wanted it to be released in a Cricket
Stadium . She had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for keeping a
slot in Musharraf's one day schedule . I had already commissioned a Colour
Canvass of Musharraf's Haveli in Delhi 6 for presentation to Musharraf by
Manmohan Singh .
A book released jointly by both Pak President and Indian PM would legitimise
History . And a Morph as History ? In the backdrop of Public Controversy on
the last 30 Pages of Maulana's Biograpy published in 1988 , his Birth
Anniversary when Najma was denied the right to receive his Bharat Ratna as
she could not marshal any proof of her kinship with Maulana . In the vvent
,President sent the Bharat Ratna Medallion to Maulana's legitimate heir
Nooruddin in Calcutta . There were enough controversies floating around in
public Mind about the legendary Maulana . The book was an attempt to set at
rest the public controversy . Not add to it .

I instructed Ajay and Bisht to keep the stock of Books delivered safely locked .
Away from public access , till such time as the Director General returned from
Kabul and decided as to the course of Action .
And then there was the question of the new ICCR Website , which was to
show case the Photos in the Book in the Section on Gosha E Maulana Azad .
31st March 2005 was a hectic Day . ICCR was given a multimedia budget of
55 Lakhs on the last Day of the Financial Year . Director General had
identified a number of priority areas . I cleared a number of files and it was
only in the evening that I could make out a systematic pattern in the way the
Book was edited .
The three Scholars who did much of the hard work over the two years to put
the Book together , Dr Syeda Hameed , Prof Wasey and and DR Goyal found
no mention in the book . Not even acknowledged for the two years of toil and
research in the introduction penned down by Najma . They received a princely
sum of 15 000 each for the monumental effort in putting the bulk of the book
together . The Director General Kanti Tipathi was shunted out of ICCR half
way . As was Sarvjeet who worked diligently to put together all the
administrative work . Design Work Shop and Ms INK Kommunications were
long out of the picture , six days after the first dummy was submitted to
President ICCR on July 9 2004. The Photographer , Dilip Banerjee who
scouted for Maulana Photos from his Archives in Calcutta , an Expert on his
life was gone too .
In the End , just three people saw the book during the final Stages of Printing :
Najma Heptulla , Lalit Sayal the printer and Badaruddin , Najma's steno . Even

Atul Cowshish who did the Proof Reading of the Book was gone long before
Najma signed the manuscript as fit for publication.
After the Introduction had been incorporated with the Morphed Photo , Lalit
Syal would visit my residence and office often to try and get my approval for
printing the book . I steadfastly said no , in absence of endorsement by the
three Editors who were appointed . Finally , I agreed after Dr Najma Heptulla
signed the Manuscript and certified that the Book could be printed as she took
the responsibility for it's contents .
April 1 2005 was a Friday . With the Financial Year Having ended , I was free .
I summoned the Publication File No SW/MAKA/2003 from Assistant
Publication Officer Ashok Jajoria .
The last communication on the file glaring at me at serial No 118 was,
ironically , was the draft of a letter proposed to be written by Najma Heptulla to
Manmohan Singh , to release the book . The plain sheet appended at Note No
DG /ICCR/239/2005 dated 29th March said :
'I am enclosing a copy of this book for your reference
I feel that the Coffee Table Book on Maulana Azad should be released by a
Person of his stature . Keeping this in view , I am requesting you kindly
indicate the date and time to release the book . You would kindly recall that I
had written to you on this issue earlier also .'
In the earlier letter she had suggested that the book be released at Firoz Shah
Kotla in presence of Musharraf , to get maximum publicity in India and
Pakistan , during the 6th one day match of the series on April 17 .

A quick call to Sanjay Baru's office indicated that the letter with the Morphed
book had already been received . Sanjay was the Media Advisor to the
accidental PM .
This gave me jitters .
How could she write to PM knowing that the Photo was a Morph ?
I had spoken to her about the photo when she had called me to check if
proofreading was satisfactory . I had told her that the Caption below the Photo
in the Introduction ' Najma Heptulla with Maulana after Passing Out of College
' was a bit funny . Firstly , 'Passing Out' has a funny interpretation as you pass
out when you are drunk . Nor was it a Military Passing Out Parade Second , it
did not clarfy as to whether it was after graduation or Intermediate College .
She agreed and said it was graduation . I told Syal to accordingly modify the
Caption and recorded that Dr Heptuula wanted it changed .
The Morph was perfect . I had no reason to suspect it was not genuine .
I asked Lalit Syal to bring the CD of PDF files used to Print the book to my
office . I wanted to do a spectrometric analysis on the CD without anyone
suspecting . He delivered the copy to my office . I did not let out that I knew
about the Morph . He returned from my office smiling .
In the evening he came to my residence with his son on the pretext of leaving
a gift on the forth coming Hindu New Year . This was unusual .
I let him leave the gift to hand it over to Pradeep Singh ,the Deputy Director
General Administration the Next Day .

I admired both Najma and Lalit Syal's smugness. She on telephone and Lalit
Syal in his visit to my residence without invitation . Smug in belief that they
had succeeded in pulling off a perfect fraud .
April 2 and 3 were a week end . I decided to hold my piece till Monday and
bring it to Director General's notice on Monday .
Till then , Najma and Lalit Syal could continue to live in the Fool's Paradise
that they had pulled the perfect April Fool's Joke on the World .

Saturday April 2 was quiet day . I spent the day mulling over the file relating to
making of the Journey of a Legend .

Falsification of History was not a charge that had visited Najma for the first
time . In 1988 , she was in the news for having commissioned a dubious
publication in 1988 in support of her claim to lobby for and receiving
Maulana's Bharat Ratna .

My mind went back to a long meeting in Najma Heptulla residence at 4 Akbar

Road on Aug 4 ,2004 .Since the target was to release the book on Nov 11 ,
2004 and most of the resarch work was complete the matter was acquiring
urgency . The Editorial Board appointed by Najma had stopped meeting since
long . Arvinder Suri who had been working on the project through it's infancy
and youth was no longer in the picture .

Among the Printers on the panel of MEA , Ms Ink Kommunications was found
most credible and technologically appropriate . Their Calendar on Folk
Theatre Forms of India had received kudos across the World ,and had earnt
the Letter of Commendation from SM Khan the Press Secretary to the
President of IndiaSince the book was to be of Historical Impotance Najma ,
Ajoy Shourie , Anjum , the Curator of Gosha e Azad and myself settled down
for a longish meeting . Badraddin , Najma's Steno on loan from Rajya Sabha
Secretariat kept the records . My old friend Jayant Mishra , who had served
with Najma for long , had shifted to Jaipur as Commissioner of Income Tax
and since his departure , Najma's Office had come to a grinding halt .

I dwelt for long on the need for a verifiable Index of Historic Pictures with
Credit to source to avoid controversies . Ajoy Shouri and Anjum supported me
. I suggested that the Index could be attested by Najma and find a reference in
the Introduction . After two hours of discussion , Najma verbally approved that
the Book would be printed by Ink .

Upon return to Office , Anjum recorded a note in her hand for DG .It was sent
to President's Office , in persuance of her instructions of July 9th that she
would like to see the final List of Photos and Complete Citations before we
finalise the Printer .After the file was sent to President , ICCR's Office , it
stayed there for a long time . Ajoy Shouri lost hope of being able to complete
the work in time for November 11 release .

I went on a tour , only to find on my return that the work had been awarded to
Lalit Syal of Sita Fine Arts who was on ICCR Panel to print Invitation Cards . I
was aghast and told DG that I would refrain from any association with the
work as a work of Historical Significance can not be awarded to a Wedding
Invitation Printer .Thereafter , President ICCR looked after the Publication of
the Book directly , assisted by her make shift PA Badruddin and Anjum Afshan
.

As I kept looking at the Morphed Photo , with details on the file , The contours
of a conspiracy to falsify History became clearer . My research complete ,I
slept off contemplating what to do on Monday when I would meet DG .
`
Sunday April 4th was a relaxed day . I had all the Documents and Notes in my
possession to convince me that Najma Maulana Photo was a Morph .
Since July 9 , the entire Manuscript had been at Najma's Residence in 4
Akbar Road . The only connection the ICCR had with the publication was the
release of the funds for publication publication . Rs 2 lakh had been released
on 19/11/2004 , as the printer indicated that the deadline of 11 Nov 2003 can
not be met and he agreed to Print it by Dec 10 , 2004 . On the day of the new
deadline , Syal told Ajay Gupta that he had met Najma on 8/12/2004 and that
Najma had told him ' not to make hurry in printing and print the book in a
perfect manner ' . Syal told DG that President had agreed to defer printing and
wrote to Najma in the matter . Najma wrote back saying ' I never said he can
take his own time. I only told him to get a good job done in the time frame '

In retrospect , it was clear that the Lalit Syal had a done a 'Good Job' ( On the
Morph at least' and in a 'perfect maner .'
The book was finally printed and delivered 5 months late on March 14 2005 .
But yes . The Morph was indeed a good job and executed in a perfect manner
.
But I needed the advice of somebody who knew India's Political History well . I
thought of Satish Mishra who was a veteran Editor with the Tribune for an
objective assessment of Najma's Motives . I called him and he agreed to
come and meet me at my Office in Azad Bhawan on Monday .

Director Genenral returned from Kabul and came to Office on Monday the 4th
of April 2005 . His immediate reaction after looking at the Morph and
Maulana's photo with Shah of Iran was one of disbelief . I pointed out to him
that his name has been carried as Publisher of the Book and we will have
serious legal problems . He immediately ask his Assistant Brij Guhare to
summon Anjum Afshan to his room . Anjum came in . Director General Asked
her about the two photos and inquired as to how the Morph happened . She
started crying and swearing in the Name of Allah that she was not responsible
for it . The photographs had been handed over by Badrauddin in Najma's
Presence to Lalit Syal .
This outburst was shocking .

I asked her where the two photographs which were used to create the Morph
were ? She trooped out of the room and resurfaced after a few Minutes .
There were the two photos . The Original Photo with Shah of Iran and
Maulana . And the Original of Najma with an Arab League Diplomat .
I was puzzled . I told Anjum that the Credits of the Book clearly held her
responsible for the Photos and their source .She could be imprisoned for 6
and a half years for forgery .
'What was the need to create a Morph ? I asked .
Anjum broke down started crying, calling Najma names .
'That woman is an imposter' She said .' I have been systematically through
Najma's entire photograph collections for an year now . She does not have a
Single Photo with Maulana . She selected the two photos and asked
Badaruddin to give the photos to Lalit Syal who was waiting in the ante room .
Badruddin instructed Lalit Syal to merge the two and create a perfect morph .'
This was an astounding revelation .
I asked DG to call Ajay Gupta in . Ajay came . He was asked to record a
statement by Anjum detailing the facts . Once the Statement was signed and
sealed , Ajay Gupta was asked to record his own Statement . This done , DG
asked Brij Guhare to summon Lalit Syal to his office on 5th Morning .
All the excitement was enough for one Morning . I retreated to my room and
waited for Satish Mishra to come to my office in the Afternoon .
Satish Mishra of Tribune is a veteran of the Hindi Heartland Politics . He knew
and spoke to most politicians by first name , and had a great command of

North Indian Politics over almost 4 decades . He had read voraciously on

Indian Independence Movement . It was for this reason that he was asked by
me to write a Tribute to Maulana on the November 11 , 2003 in The Triibune .
His piece ' We need you Maulana' was very well received and Najma herself
had complimented the piece saying ' that we need more articles like this
aimed at the Muslim youth .
Satish came in the afternoon and we settled down on the legendary Chai
Samosa from ICCR Canteen run by Anil Kumar Katyal . I asked Ajay to join us
for with a copy of the book . Satish looked at the Morph and started laughing .
He said ' Old Leopard rarely changed their Spots . Detailing the History of
ICCR's Transfer from Ministry of Culture to ICCR in 1979 . Maulana' Last Will
and Testament and the controversy surrounding a similar Publication from a
Press in Chandani Chowk in 1988 , when Najma suddenly appeared in
Maulana's Family Tree from no where and courted Controversy leading to
protracted wrangling on why and who should receive Maulana's Bharat Ratna
posthoumously in 1992 , he quipped : ' Najma 's relationship with Maulana is a
carefully cultivated Administrative Myth . Not a Judicial Fact . It 's likely that
Najma thought of this to convince BJP leadership that she was from the
politically important Lineage of Maulana . Maulana was a bachelor and
wanted his kin to educate Muslims , not engage in Politics .Her husband,
Akbarali A Heptulla, a manpower consultant, was instrumental in the
establishment of the newspaper Patriot in the 1960s. This brought Najma
close to Indira Gandhi . But there is no credible evidence of her Kinship with
Najma . '

He corroborated Bisht's story and said that he doubts if Najma ever met
Maulana . In any case , Maulana would never have time for a 18 years old
hanger on during his sickness , and that Najma in the photos is in her 40's .
Satish asked me if he could take away a copy of the book for his Library . I
said surely , but he must keep it under wraps . He laughed . The book would
be banned and withdrawn . But it would be an asset when a Political Obituary
of Najma Heptulla is written .' With antics like this , she does not deserve to be
anything in India, let alone be the President .'
After the Gyandaan from Satish , I was clear that the matter had to brought to
the Notice of Foreign Secretary , particularly since Najma had already written
to Man Mohan Singh to release the book on April 17 .

`
Lalit Syal came to Director Generals Office on Tuesday . DG called me in the
Meeting and told me to cover the Meeting . He was asked explain the Morph .
Without blinking an eyelid , with total nonchalance , he said that the Morph
was created on Najma's Instructions . I asked him who gave him the Photos .
He said Badruddin did . After the Morph was created, Najma asked for several
refinements . Both the DG and I were taken aback by his aplomb . Not only
did he not have any remorse , he was confident that he could get away with it .
I asked him to submit these facts in writing . He was nervous now . He said : '
AAP President ICCR se baat kar leejiye .'I told him we will speak to who so
ever needs to be spoken to but he should write down in a Statement as to
where did he get the Photos and and who approved of the Morph .He was
now a bit nervous . He said : Ye to theek ho jayega . !I told him to revert back

with a written explanation .He returned the next day with a written Note ,
stating that he ' received the Photos from ' President's Office . No names .This
was hilarious .After Najma ceased to be Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha ,
both Jayant Mishra her OSD and Ranjan Chaturvedi her PS had moved on .
Najma had a clerk from Rajya Sabha Secretariate on Loan , Badruddin .He
came part time and worked out of 4 Akbar Road .So 'President's Office'
became a euphemism for Najma and Badruddin .DG asked me to add a
record of Syal's Statement on Aprl 5 to his note on April 6 . He than dictated a
forwarding Note to Khaliq , his PA . It was diarised by Brij Guhare and
forwarded to Syed Akbarruddin the Director FSO in Shyam Saran's Office . It
was hand carried by DG given the sensitivities involved and handed over to
Akbaruddin for puting it up to Shyam Saran at the earliest .
First half of April 7 was quiet . Director General was summoned by Foreign
Secretary in the morning to brief the Minster Natwar Singh and Minister for
ICCR Rao Inderjit Singh as they were required to brief PM Manmohan Singh
why the Book Release has to be called off in pursuance of Najma's letter to
PM .At around 2 pm I got a call from Director General that Foreign Secretary
wanted to see me . I went and briefed Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran about
the sequence of events as they happened . After waiting with Syed
Akbaruddin ,the Director of Foreign Secratary's Office , we were told to scan
the entire File and the Photos in the Main Frame Computer in Foreign
Secretary Office . I was told subsequently by Shyam Saran that External
Affairs Minister wanted the 3 Photos to be Released to Hindustan Times .I told
Shyam Saran and Akbaruddin that this should be done by Navtej Sarna , the
spokesperson . But since the Hindustan TImes Journalist Nilova Roy
Chaudhary had done several Articles on Culture and Maulana Azad , it would

be appropriate for me to give the photos to her .The same evening , I handed
over the photos to Nilova Roy Chaudhary , and told her that any further
queries can be directed By Vinod Sharma , the Hindustan Times Buro Chief to
Natwar Singh or by Shekar Dutta the Editor to Sanjay Baru 's Office .I told
Syed Akbaruddin that this was political Work not part of my brief and it should
be done by Navtej or Sanjay Baru .My objection was over ruled . The logic
was that PM would be briefed only after the News Item comes out and
Spokesperson will confirm the News to Media The same evening , I handed
over the photos to Nilova Roy Chaudhary without comments at Le Meridien
Coffee Shop , and told her that any further queries can be directed By Vinod
Sharma , the Hindustan Times Buro Chief to Natwar Singh or by Shekhar
Dutta the Editor to Sanjay Baru 's Office .

April 9 2005 was the a hectic day . Natwar Singh confirmed to Shekhar Dutta
about the Morph . He promptly called up Sanjay Baru . Baru confirmed the
Story . And the HT presses started Rolling after the spectrometric Analysis of
the 3 photos .
And on April 10 2005 , the City of Delhi woke up with this half page coverage
on front pages of Hindustan Tmes .
You will not find if you Google Hindustan Times Digital Archives .
Because ruling class any society erases , falsifies modifies and morphs
History to subjugate a people who do not have a sense of their own History .
They are condemned to live in ignorance . They must learn to live with their
proud architecture in ruins , their books desecrated , their goddesses insulted
and their History perverted .

This month is the Tenth Anniversary of Najma Heptulla Photo morphing Case
which has rocked our Parliament , our Judicial System and our curiosity for a
decade .