Puri: Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Tuesday refuted allegations of theft of 70 ‘Dasamula Modakas’ meant for sibling deities during the Anavasara Ekadashi ritual at Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri.
This came hours after Badagrahi of Lord Balabhadra Haladhara Dasmohapatra created a stir by claiming that 70 out of 313 “Amuniya Modakas” prepared by royal physicians and stored under tight security in Garada, a chamber on the temple complex, were missing. He has submitted a formal complaint with Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), alleging that the sanctity of the remaining modakas was compromised, yet they were still offered to the deities.
Speaking to the media, Harichandan said: “The SJTA chief administrator has already issued a clarification on it. The modakas prepared for the deities are not counted before the offering and therefore, there is no question of any theft being detected.”
He added that legal action will be taken against those trying to create unnecessary confusion.
Earlier, SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said that the preliminary investigation found the claims to be “not based on truth”. “None from the temple administration or Garada official touches the medicinal offerings for the Lords brought by Baidya sevakas. Those are also not counted. We have information that 313 modakas were accepted by Daitapati servitors and it is also mentioned in the record book. And the Daitapati Nijog has filed no complaint in this regard,” he said.
Padhee, however, clarified that the Badagrahi’s complaint, involving the Chief Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and temple Commander, is being taken seriously. “Though preliminary investigation indicates no such theft, we will continue with the probe and examine footage of the CCTV cameras on the shrine complex to ascertain the truth,” he added.
This has come amid efforts by the government and the temple administration to ensure an incident-free Rath Yatra, beginning June 27, after being slammed for severe mismanagement during the last year’s festival when the heavy wooden idol of Lord Balabhadra toppled and fell while being brought down from the chariot to be taken to the Gundicha temple, injuring nine servitors.