Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar treasure shifted in 7-hour operation: Justice Rath

Putting all speculations to rest, all the gold ornaments stored in Lord Jagannath’s treasure trove also called the Ratna Bhandar were shifted to the temporary strong room inside the Puri Jagannath temple on Friday. The process of shifting gold ornaments and other valuables was done as per the SOP of the high-level Committee. The process took over seven hours today.

Justice Biswath Rath, chief of the high-level committee said, “We had opened the locks at the auspicious time which was fixed. We have only shifted the valuables from the inner Ratna Bhandar to the temporary strong room as per the SOP.”

According to Rath, there three wooden cupboards, 1 steel almirah, 2 wooden and 1 iron chests were there inside the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar. All the valuables have been kept inside the new storage units (containers).

“With the help of the 11-member team along with Bhandar Sevaks, the entire shifting process of valuables was done today,” said Rath

Secret Chambers Inside Ratna Bhandar?

Justice Biswanath Rath clarified “We never believed in such things. I appeal to the people that these are not based on facts. I also appeal to YouTubers, media and others not to spread such news. We have shifted the cupboards and we have not found any such things.”

Earlier in the Puri King had stated that only after proper inspection by ASI through high-tech gadgets, things will be clear.

“Whatever we saw, we did not find any tunnel or secret chamber with our naked eyes. There is no SOP for re-investigation and as there is a need for it, we will convene a meeting and move ahead as per the directions of the Odisha government,” said Justice Rath.

Inventorisation Process

In the first phase, the Odisha government had allowed for the opening of Ratna Bhandar and then the shifting of valuables. Justice Rath said that the next course of action would be taken as per the SOP.

SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said, "With the Lord's blessings, all the ornaments have been shifted to the temporary strong room today."

He added, “The old almirahs inside Ratna Bhandar are still inside. Only valuables inside have been shifted to new containers. The entire process has been video-graphed.”

Padhee further informed that all the valuables have been kept in 6 new almirahs and some valuables in proper packaging.

No Snake Inside Ratna Bhandar

Snake Helpline member, Suvendu Mallick said, “We have not gone inside. Our teams were ready and we were not called by the officials to catch any snake. Our services were not sought. Had there been snakes, our team would had been called. We had come to give confidence and a sense of security to the team engaged in the opening of Ratna Bhandar.”