The Waqf Board is asserting ownership over at least 53 historical monuments in Karnataka, including notable sites like Gol Gumbaz, Ibrahim Rauza, Bara Kaman in Vijayapura, and the forts in Bidar and Kalaburagi. Out of these, 43 monuments in Vijayapura, which was once the capital of the Adil Shahi dynasty, were designated as Waqf properties by the board in 2005. Many of these sites have been encroached upon and altered inappropriately.

The Waqf Board has designated forty-three centrally protected monuments in Vijayapura as Waqf properties, utilising the same ROR/PR cards (Record of Rights/government's certificate granted to the property owner), according to information obtained by DH through RTI. “While ASI is the holder of the land/monument, the encumbrance is the Waqf authority. This has been done without consulting ASI,” remarks the RTI response from the Union government.

Documents indicate that these protected sites were designated as Waqf properties in 2005 by Mohammad Mohsin, the principal secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department (Medical Education), who was the chairman of the Waqf Board, Vijayapura, and the deputy commissioner at the time. “I don’t remember how many monuments were declared as Waqf properties. But whatever I have done is according to the government gazette notification issued by the Revenue Department and authentic documentary evidence produced by the parties,” said Mohsin.

On November 12, 1914, the then-British government designated the majority of them as monuments of national interest. According to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Remains (AMASR) Act and Rules of 1958, ASI is the "sole owner" responsible for the upkeep, restoration, and conservation of these properties. Since there are no provisions to denotify them, officials claim that once a property is designated as ASI, it remains so forever. The Waqf Board is asserting ownership over six monuments in the Hampi area and four in Bengaluru, along with the Masjid-i-Ala in Srirangapatna. However, the Dharwad Circle, which includes the monuments in Vijayapura, has not provided a list of additional claims by the Waqf.

According to sources within the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), nearly all 43 monuments in Vijayapura have experienced issues such as encroachment, damage, or poor renovations by “third parties”. For instance, the areas around Mulla Mosque and Yakub Dabuli's Mosque and tomb have been transformed into a madrasa. These monuments are examples of Indo-Islamic architecture and were suggested for nomination as a World Heritage Site.

“Monuments are the living examples of our history. Monuments can be renovated/conserved in the prescribed manner only by ASI. However, the 43 monuments in Vijayapura are being defaced and are being repaired with plaster and cement Fans, air conditioners, fluorescent lights and toilets are being added to the monuments. Shopkeepers have taken over certain properties. This is adversely impacting the flow of tourists to these monuments,” said an officer anonymously.

Since 2007, the Union government's Ministry of Culture has communicated with the Karnataka Chief Secretary, the Minorities Welfare Department, and the deputy commissioner of Vijayapura to remove the encroachments since the protected monuments are being abused by alterations and unlawful residential and commercial constructions have emerged. According to officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), neither the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Vijayapura nor the Waqf Board has provided valid documents to prove that the monuments belong to the Waqf, even after a joint survey was conducted in 2012.

Senior ASI officials in Karnataka, who have been told not to discuss the Waqf issue, stated that the ownership of centrally protected monuments cannot be changed, altered, or modified under the provisions of the AMASR Act.