Visitor Claims Denial of Entry at Taj Mahal Over Religious Bag, Authorities Cite Prohibited Items

Agra – A tourist from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has alleged that security personnel at the Taj Mahal denied him entry because his bag carried the words “Shri Ram” printed on it. The man, identified as Ashish, shared a video on social media claiming that despite holding a valid entry ticket, he was stopped at the gate after his bag passed through the security scanner.

According to Ashish, security guards refused to let him proceed further solely because of the religious text on his bag. However, officials at the monument dismissed the allegation, clarifying that the denial was due to prohibited items found inside the bag.

Senior Commandant Vaibhav Dubey explained that the security scan detected supari, tobacco, and a cutter—items strictly banned within the Taj Mahal premises. “He was clearly given the option to deposit the bag in the cloakroom or leave the restricted items outside. Instead, he chose to make a video and frame the issue as religious discrimination. This is unfortunate,” Dubey said.

Authorities reiterated that the security protocols at the Taj Mahal are uniform for all visitors, regardless of faith or belief.

In a separate incident, another individual filmed restricted sections of the Taj Mahal, including the exclusive passage leading to the tombs of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The clip, widely circulated online, revealed the closed pathway that has remained inaccessible to the public for years in order to protect the historic monument.