Judicial Probe Into Missing Keys Of Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar Begins

Cuttack:  Justice Raghubir Das Commission began its inquiry into the missing Ratna Bhandar keys of Puri Jagannath Temple at the Circuit House here on Wednesday.

Talking to mediapersons, Justice Das said the Commission, in a notification, has invited people to submit their statement supported by affidavits on this issue by July 25.

“People can submit these in person either in Cuttack or Puri. Besides, they can also send these by post either to Cuttack or Puri,” he informed.

He also said the Commission wants more people with knowledge about the terms of reference (ToR) relating to the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar to submit affidavits, which will be helpful in its investigation.

The Commission, after examining the affidavits and statements, will have its first meeting at the Circuit House in Puri on July 30, he added.

The state government on June 6 had appointed Justice Raghubir Das, former judge of the Orissa High Court, as chairman of the commission of inquiry to probe into the missing keys of Ratna Bhandara of the Jagannath temple.

On the other hand, Jagannath Sena convener Priyadarshan Patnaik alleged that the state government was not concerned over the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar.

“We have come to submit our affidavit protesting against the location of office of the Commission in Cuttack. What a farce! The keys are missing in Puri and the probe commission will have its office in Cuttack. When the Ratna Bhandar, Jagannath temple, the temple administration, duplicate keys, record room, servitors and Puri collector are in Puri, how the Commission will be able to trace the original keys of the Ratna Bhandar here? In case, the keys and other documents of the temple are brought from Puri, where they will be kept? There is no strong room here,” he told the media.

He further said the state government should know that the affidavits filed by the people have no meaning if the office of the commission is not shifted to Puri.