TV
Acting on a tip-off, the Customs Department seized a huge amount of gold and silver at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) on Monday. The gold amounting to over 80 kgs and silver weighing around 200 kgs was seized by customs officials on August 26. While nothing has been ascertained, the Opposition targeted the BJP government.
They alleged that the gold and silver ornaments were being illegally smuggled from Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Puri Srimandir to Gujarat.
In a tweet, former BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy alleged, “Straight out of Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath Temple to waiting private aircraft? Huge quantities of gold (80+kgs) and Silver (200+kgs) with many other old artefacts seized this evening near Bhubaneswar airport from a Bank ATM (replenishing) vehicle.”
Similarly, BJD Rajya Sabha member Sulata Deo also brought serious allegations that the gold and silver ornaments were taken from Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar and were set to be smuggled to Gujarat through a private aircraft.
However, Lord Jagannath’s chief Badagrahi Jagannath Swain Mohapatra termed the allegations baseless and laughable.
“These allegations are completely baseless. Most importantly, the allegation coming from such respected people is condemnable and laughable. Forget about the gold and silver, not even a bee can enter the Ratna Bhandar,” he said.
“We will not let even one gram of gold ornaments leave Ratna Bhandar, forget about quintals. So, such allegations are all baseless. They are just ruining their images by giving such statements,” he added.
