Historic 'Wagh Nakh' Used By Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj To Kill Afzal Khan Brought Back To India

The historic 'wagh nakh', a tiger claw-shaped weapon used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has been brought to India from a museum in United Kingdom, announced Maharashtra Culture Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.

The weapon was brought from London to Mumbai.

The wagh nakh will now be taken to Satara in western Maharashtra, where it will be put on display from Friday.

"The wagh nakh has landed," stated Mungantiwar, without providing additional information, NDTV reported.

On Tuesday (16 July), State Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai said the wagh nakh will be accorded a grand welcome in Satara.

The weapon brought from London has a bulletproof cover and security has been beefed up, he told reporters.

It will be kept at a museum in Satara for seven months, he said.

Desai, who is also the guardian minister of Satara, reviewed the security arrangements at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sangrahalay (museum) in the district on Tuesday.

"The wagh nakh is being brought to Shahunagari (Satara) from a London museum on July 19," he said.

Desai said the wagh nakh being brought to Maharashtra is an inspiring moment and it will be welcomed in Satara in a grand ceremony.

Mungantiwar had last week informed the legislative assembly that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had used the wagh nakh.

His statement came following a historian's claim that the wagh nakh, which was used by the Maratha empire's founder to kill Bijapur Sultanate's general Afzal Khan in 1659, was already in Satara.

Mungantiwar also refuted allegations that the government spent several crores to transport the weapon from London's Victoria and Albert Museum to Maharashtra, clarifying thatthe travel expenses and signing of the agreement cost Rs 14.08 lakh.

He revealed that while the London museum initially agreed to give the weapon for a year, Maharashtra successfully negotiated to extend the display period to three years.

"After a lot of efforts, the wagh nakh is being brought to Maharashtra due to successful efforts of the government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde," Desai said.

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