‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh wanted to donate Kohinoor diamond to Puri Jagannath Temple'

Veteran actor Puneet Issar made an interesting claim that the world’s costliest diamond, Kohinoor originally belongs to Lord Jagannath temple in Puri. 

Joining a podcast with versatile actor Mukesh Khanna, Issar claimed that Maharaja Ranjit Singh actually wanted to give the 105-carat jewel to the Puri Jagannath temple in Odisha.

After the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022, world’s most famous and disputed gem, Kohinoor will now go to Duchess of Cornwall Camilla, wife of Prince Charles who is now the king of the United Kingdom.

Speaking on the history of the famed jewel, Puneet said, "Maharaja of Punjab Ranjit Singh had said about donating the diamond to the Puri Lord because the first man who was part of Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones) of Guru Gobind Singh was a Hindu and an Odia."

In honour of the first Hindu and the Odia man who came forward for Panj Pyare, the Maharaja of Punjab had decided to donate the Kohinoor to Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, said the actor.

However, reports suggest that after the Maharaja’s death, the British took away the Kohinoor from his son Duleep Singh even though they were aware that it was bequeathed to Lord Jagannath at Puri Srimandir.