The state administration had to step in and begin an investigation on Saturday after the 15th-century fort, around 20 km from the district headquarters was trespassed by several people.
A buzz was created in Madhya Pradesh following the release of the Bollywood film Chhaava and the mention of gold coins present underground in Burhanpur district. As per reports people started gathering in large numbers to dig land round Asirgarh fort searching for hidden treasure.
The state administration had to step in and begin an investigation on Saturday after the 15th-century fort, around 20 km from the district headquarters was trespassed by several people.
This has put many landowners in distressed as their fields are being violated in attempt to find 'treasure'.
The film starring actor Vicky Kaushal was released on February 14 and has seen great numbers at the box office. The high grossing film has incidentally also mentioned Burhanpur and highlighted the city's Mughal history as a location of a major military campaign by Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
Not just that, there was also a mention of a possible 'gold mine' in the Asirgarh fort.
This triggered the people nearby to look for the hidden treasure as mentioned in Chhaava.
There are videos circulating on social media which shows several people digging and searching for treasures around the Asirgarh fort holding torches on their mobile phones.
NDTV reported that one such video also showed people carrying metal detectors to search through the soil.
But there has been no official confirmation made on the truth behind the videos or even if the videos are from this incident itself.
Waseem Khan, a resident of the area, told PTI that several people arrived around Asirgarh fort, and following that he had informed the local official about the digging.
Khan reportedly did not hear back from the local administration.
Burhanpur district collector Harsh Singh told PTI, "It came to my knowledge that some people dug up fields in search of gold coins. I have told the sub-divisional magistrate) to visit the spot."
He said even if people find some coins, they will be of archaeological importance.
"I have told the SDM to conduct a probe and stop the digging activity. If the administration finds the coins with people and it is proved they were found at the site, they will be considered government property," he added.
Burhanpur SP Devendra Patidar told India Today, “We are aware of the reports and are investigating. If anyone is caught digging illegally, action will be taken.”
Shalikram Chaudhary, District Archaeological Member told NDTV, "It is true that such coins have been found in Asirgarh before. The administration must take this seriously, use scientific methods for exploration, and safeguard any historical treasures found."
Meanwhile the opposition party Congress have also asked the governemnt to pay attention to the unauthorised digging in the district and requested to prevent the situation from snowballing.