Emergency Declared: Queen Imprisoned and Indira Gandhi's Hunt for Mughal Gold

What if the treasure they were hunting wasn’t just gold, but the power it symbolized? What if the story of Mughal wealth hidden in Jaigarh Fort was just a cover-up for something far more sinister — the ultimate political play by a Prime Minister who wasn’t afraid to lock up a queen to get what she wanted?

In 1975, the nation was plunged into chaos when Indira Gandhi declared the Emergency — a period of authoritarian rule that suspended civil liberties, muzzled the press, and turned the political climate upside down. But in the midst of this turbulent time, something even more extraordinary was happening in Jaipur. The target? Jaigarh Fort — a centuries-old fortress in Rajasthan, believed to house the legendary Mughal gold that had been hidden there by Raja Man Singh during the reign of Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.

At the heart of this historical drama was a queen, Rajmata Gayatri Devi, who had once held the political establishment in her grasp. A formidable figure, Gayatri Devi had been a thorn in the side of Indira Gandhi, defeating Congress candidates three times in the Lok Sabha elections. Her political defiance made her a target during the Emergency, and when she was arrested on charges of foreign currency violations, her imprisonment became the backdrop to a far more bizarre tale: the hunt for Mughal treasure.

But was this treasure hunt really about gold, or was it about power, control, and revenge?

To understand why Jaigarh Fort became the focal point of this treasure hunt, we need to dig deep into history. The legend of the Mughal gold traces back to the reign of Emperor Akbar in the 1500s. His trusted general, Raja Man Singh I of Jaipur, returned from an expedition to Kabul with unimaginable riches, including gold, which he supposedly hid in Rajasthan to keep it out of the emperor’s grasp.

Fast forward to the 1970s, and the myth had grown larger than life. The treasure — which some believed to be hidden in water tanks or secret chambers at Jaigarh and the neighboring Amber Fort — had captivated explorers, treasure hunters, and conspiracy theorists for centuries. From British adventurers to local legends, no one had ever found the riches. But the Indian state, under Indira Gandhi’s leadership, decided to give it one more shot.
The treasure hunt began in earnest in 1975 when Gayatri Devi was arrested, sparking a series of political and public developments. While she was imprisoned in Tihar Jail, rumors spread that the government was targeting the hidden wealth of the Jaipur royals. Jaigarh Fort, once a seat of power and defense, was dug up with military precision. Helicopters were seen flying in and out of the fort, while army units and police cordoned off the area. The media was silenced, and speculation about what was being uncovered reached fever pitch.

Shams Taahir Khan, a senior crime journalist, recalled the intensity of the search, stating, “As army helicopters would fly in and out of the fort, speculation about the treasure being found intensified, which was further fueled by the visit of Indira’s heir apparent, Sanjay Gandhi, on a chopper.” The operation became an international sensation, as the world watched the government’s efforts to uncover what was rumored to be the largest hidden treasure in Indian history.

However, despite the intense military involvement and widespread media attention, only a small amount of silver was found. In November 1976, Indira Gandhi officially announced that no treasure had been discovered. According to reports, the total haul amounted to just 230 kilograms of silver — far less than the vast wealth anticipated.
As the hunt progressed, the mystery surrounding the treasure escalated, reaching international dimensions. In August 1976, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, wrote a letter to Indira Gandhi expressing Pakistan’s interest in the treasure.
“I am writing to you about the treasure which is being unearthed in Jaipur under your Government's orders... I would urge you to remain cognizant of Pakistan's claim to its due share of this wealth,” Bhutto’s letter read.

Indira Gandhi’s response, however, was swift and dismissive.
“I had asked our legal experts to give careful consideration to the claim you made on behalf of Pakistan. They are of the clear opinion that the claim has no legal basis,” she wrote.
The letter’s final line confirmed what had already been suspected: “Incidentally, the 'treasure' has turned out to be non-existent.” This formal declaration marked the end of the treasure hunt, though questions about the true nature of the operation persisted.
The grand revelation came in November 1976: The government claimed that the search had turned up only 230 kg of silver. No gold, no jewels — just silver. Yet, something didn’t sit right. If the treasure was hidden in Jaigarh Fort, why was the search not focused on Amber Fort, the older and more likely location?

There were theories, of course. Some believed that there was a secret tunnel linking Jaigarh and Amber Fort, and the treasure had been transported to Jaigarh. Others whispered that the treasure might have been moved — or, perhaps, the operation had merely been a cover for something else entirely.

One person who seemed to believe in the treasure’s existence was Gayatri Devi herself. In interviews, she hinted that there was something almost supernatural about the whole affair. Could it be that the treasure was cursed? Gayatri Devi suggested that the deaths of Sanjay Gandhi and even Indira Gandhi could be attributed to the curse tied to the treasure.
Despite Indira Gandhi’s official statement, the lack of transparency and the unexplained secrecy surrounding the hunt led to numerous theories and speculations. Why, many wondered, was Jaigarh Fort — a relatively newer fort built in 1726 — chosen as the primary site for the search when the treasure was believed to be hidden in the older Amber Fort from the 1500s? Some speculated that the treasure was moved during the Mughal Empire’s decline, while others believed the search was based on intelligence or a tip-off.

One theory suggests that there was a secret tunnel linking the two forts, providing access to hidden treasures. Another unverified account claimed that the treasure was secretly shipped to Delhi in an army convoy during the operation. Some even speculate that the gold was melted down, transferred to Swiss vaults, or quietly used by the government.

As the years passed, rumors continued to swirl, and the search became a symbol of the excesses of the Emergency. According to Shams Taahir Khan, the operation left behind many unanswered questions:
“Why was the Delhi-Jaipur highway closed for a day, with 50-60 trucks moving from Jaipur to Delhi?”
Rajmata Gayatri Devi, who had been incarcerated for over five months during this time, later hinted at something far darker. She speculated that the treasure hunt — and the tragedy that followed — was cursed. In interviews, Gayatri Devi pointed to the deaths of Sanjay Gandhi and Indira Gandhi, both of whom died under tragic circumstances. She attributed their deaths to the curse of the treasure. Whether or not there was any truth to this theory, it added an air of mystique to an already bizarre chapter of India’s history. The treasure hunt, along with the arrest of Gayatri Devi, became a symbol of the Emergency’s excesses — a time when the government wielded its power with impunity. For Gayatri Devi, who had always been seen as a symbol of royal elegance and resistance, the raid on her family’s legacy was deeply personal. Her imprisonment and the subsequent treasure hunt became inextricably linked, creating a narrative that continues to fascinate historians and storytellers.

Despite the official line that the treasure was “non-existent,” many still believe there is more to the story. Was it a strategic move by Indira Gandhi to wrest control over the gold? Or was it, as some claim, a political witch-hunt targeting an opponent? The truth remains elusive, but one thing is certain — the tale of Jaigarh Fort, Gayatri Devi, and the Mughal treasure will forever be intertwined in India’s history, a story of power, myth, and the shadows that hang over the treasures of the past.

In the end, the legend of the Mughal gold may never fully be solved, but the story of the Emergency, a queen, and the secrets of Jaigarh Fort continue to intrigue and haunt us.

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