Missing Ratna Bhandar Keys: Probe Panel Asks Puri Admn To Submit Affidavit By August 7

Puri: The first hearing of Justice Raghubir Dash Commission of Inquiry, probing the missing Ratna Bhandar keys of Jagannath Temple, at the Circuit House here on Monday remained incomplete as the district administration failed to submit detailed information pertaining to the issue.

Talking to mediapersons later, Justice Das said since the statement was not enough for the purpose of inquiry and hence the administration has been directed to submit it in the form of an affidavit with detailed information during its next hearing at Cuttack slated for August 7.

“After receiving the affidavit from the district administration, the Commission would decide its future course of action,” he pointed out.

Justice Dash further said that the Commission decided not to give any hearing on the four affidavits it had received earlier as there is no proper evidence or facts relating to the missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar.

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 the missing keys of Ratna Bhandara by the order of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on June 4 after the issue kicked up a political storm in the state.

The Opposition parties had expressed apprehensions over the safe custody of the precious ornaments in the Ratna Bhandar.

The judicial commission has been asked to submit its report to the state government within three months.

The probe will focus on the circumstances under which the Ratna Bhandara keys went missing.