Nashik: A public interest litigation (PIL) is likely to be filed in the Supreme Court to bring back the priceless diamond ‘Eye of God Shiva’ allegedly looted from Trimbakeshwar temple around 200 years ago. It is now believed to be at a museum in Lebanon. The PIL will be filed by Trimbakeshwar temple trustee Lalita Shinde.

Ms Shinde, a professional lawyer said that she had earlier written to the President, the Prime Minister, the foreign minister and other central authorities to bring back the diamond and return it to the Trimbakeshwar deity.

Trimbakeshwar, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, is in Nashik district. Ms Shinde said that her lawyer in Delhi assured her that they were revising the draft of the PIL and it would be filed in the Apex Court possibly in the first week of August. Ms Shinde added, “The temple was renovated during the Peshwa period. After completing the temple’s renovation work in 1725 the then ruler, Nana Peshwa donated the valuable crown to the deity which included many precious gemstones and the priceless ‘Nashak’ diamond.”

She also said, “The British invaders looted the diamond about 200 years ago and took it to England. This diamond was mined in 13 or 14 century from Amargiri mines near Mehboobnagar in Telangana. It remained with the Mysore treasury and was looted by Mughals. The Peshwas took control of the Mughal treasury when they took over Delhi, and the diamond passed into their collection. The Peshwas had made a ‘navas’ (vow) for getting control of the Trimbakeshwar fort. In gratitude for winning over the fort, Nana Peshwa gave the gold crown with the diamond to the deity.” After travelling through various treasuries, the diamond is now in the private collection of Robert Mouawad museum in Lebanon, she claimed.