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The Odisha government, previously led by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and its supremo Naveen Patnaik, is now under scrutiny for submitting inconsistent affidavits to the Orissa High Court concerning the public release of an inquiry commission report related to the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath temple in Puri, official sources said on Wednesday.
Also Read: Precious valuables missing from Ratna Bhandar? Duplicate keys, unlocked cupboards and chests raise suspicion
According to the official sources, on January 29, 2024, the then-BJD-led government's affidavit recommended against disclosing the report publicly. Conversely, again on April 5, 2024, a subsequent affidavit earlier submitted indicated that the government was in favor of making the report accessible to the public.
This discrepancy in affidavits has led to confusion and prompted the High Court to demand clarification. The court has scheduled the next hearing for the upcoming week.
“The State had referred in the court to a counter affidavit dated January 29, 2024. After the verification of records, we found that two more affidavits were also filed on April 5, 2024, which reflected the order sheet dated June 19, 2024. However, on April 5, 2024, through OP No-8, the Home Department, Odisha stated that verification was already over and they (the then State government) had decided to present it (the commission’s inquiry report) in the House of Legislative Assembly,” legal counsel, Anup Kumar Mohapatra said.
“Confusion was created over the two affidavits. Subsequently, we appealed to the court and the High Court has accorded them (the Government) more time to clarify and clear the air on contradiction,” legal counsel Mohapatra further said.
Breakthroughs and new controversies
In July 2024, Odisha’s new BJP government forcibly opened the inner chamber after 46 years by breaking three locks. This revealed mismatched security protocols, as the 1960 Temple Rules prohibited duplicate keys—yet duplicates surfaced in 2018. Structural concerns persist, with ASI’s 2018 external inspection noting deterioration.
Disappearance and failed audits
In 2018, authorities discovered the inner chamber’s keys missing during a court-ordered structural inspection. A judicial commission led by Justice Raghubir Das investigated but its 324-page inquiry report still remains undisclosed. The 1978 audit—the last comprehensive inventory—revealed huge cache of gold and silver, though 14 items couldn’t be weighed. Subsequent audits failed due to missing keys and procedural gaps.
Historical significance of Ratna Bhandar
The Ratna Bhandar, a 12th-century treasury within Puri’s Jagannath Temple, houses priceless gold and silver ornaments offered to deities over centuries. Divided into inner and outer chambers, the inner vault was last opened in 1985.
Political weaponisation
The BJP leveraged the issue during the 2024 elections, with PM Modi alleging BJD suppressed the Das Commission report and claiming keys 'went to Tamil Nadu'—a dig at CM Naveen Patnaik’s close aide VK Pandian. The party promised to recover keys and audit treasures if elected. This narrative capitalised on Odisha’s religious sentiments, contrasting with BJD’s focus on temple infrastructure projects.
Must Read: Ratna Bhandar issue: Odisha govt seeks more time for making Justice Raghubir Das Commission report public
Unresolved questions
Critical issues remain: Why were duplicate keys created without authorisation? Why was not the Das Commission report made public? Can the 2024 inventory verify the treasury integrity after decades of alleged 'mismanagement'? The BJP government faces pressure to publish historical reports while ensuring transparent audits.
