Prince Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy, a self-proclaimed descendant of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, has stirred significant controversy with his claims over India's iconic Taj Mahal and his involvement in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir dispute.

India's monarchical dynasties, once ruling large portions of the subcontinent, were in effect eradicated with the nation's declaration as a republic in 1947.

With India's independence, the monarchy system was abolished de jure and democracy was in the spotlight.

Even though royal rule has ceased, numerous offspring of these previously influential families remain living in India, profiting from a blood relationship with their vaunted forbears and, in numerous instances, claiming ownership of their ancestors' properties and lands.

Among them are influential members like Maharani Rajikaraje Gaekwad and Princess Diya Kumari of Rajasthan, influential individuals from the royal circle living in India.

One man claims to be a descendant of the Mughals. So much so, he has often challenged the ownership of Taj Mahal, the Ram Mandir row etc. His name is Prince Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy.

Prince Tucy claims to be the descendant of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. He claims to be the sixth generation. This establishes his connection with Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan, Akbar and other Mughal emperors.

Owner

He came to limelight after he laid claims as ‘owner’ of the Taj Mahal, India’s iconic white marble mausoleum years ago. While there were several controversies surrounding it, he also presented his DNA report that was accepted by the court of Hyderabad.

In 2019, he challenged Princess Diya Kumari of Rajasthan who claimed to have documents for Taj Mahal. The Prince had confronted her saying: “If you do have the documents kept in your “pothikhana”, show them. If you have even a drop of Rajput blood within, show those documents.”

Scrolling through his feed, one can find that the Mughal descendant’s fashion style is regal. He tends to don long royal robes, cap like that of the Mughal emperor.

Prince Tucy on Ram Mandir

When the Ram Mandir row was on going, Tucy had called out at the Wakf council and said, “We have issued an order to Wakf board, that it is not their property. It is a property issue and if turns out to be Babur’s property, then we are the owners of it. And, as the owner of the property, we don’t have any issue with the Ram temple being built there.” Showing his support he even offered a golden brick. “Not only will I present a golden brick, I will also hand over the entire land for construction of the temple,” he said speaking in an old interview.

Currently he lives in Hyderabad. Amid the recent uproar about Aurangzeb’s grave, apart from his purported claims over other heritage sites, Prince Tucy has revealed himself as Mutawalli and Caretaker of Aurangzeb's Grave in Maharashtra. He takes charge of looking after the tomb of the controversial Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who ruled much of India in the 17th century. The prince has been outspoken in calling for the protection of this historic monument, especially considering recent vandalism incidents. In one, Tucy petitioned the President of India, asking the government to do something to protect the monument. His petition stated, "I request the government to take measures to protect the monument/grave of Aurangzeb Alamgeer RH."

Prince Tucy's public image is closely linked to his royal Mughal lineage. His fashion sense attests to the heritage, as he is typically dressed in the long, majestic robes and a similar cap that Mughal emperors used to wear. His fashion also supports the persona of a man of royal blood, one who prides himself on his heritage and the history that he comes from. His online profiles often reflect these traditional looks, harkening to the grandeur and gravitas of the Mughal empire.