Keys were ‘hidden’ and something happened inside Ratna Bhandar: Chief Badagrahi of Lord Jagannath

There is something fishy behind the missing Ratna Bhandar keys, alleged Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, the chief Badagrahi of Lord Jagannath. The statements assume much significance on the backdrop of confusion over the mysterious disappearance of the keys and subsequent recovery in the past.

According to Mohapatra, the missing Ratna Bhandar keys and the emergence of duplicate keys are really shameful. Moreover, the keys are not of the same lock as the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar, he alleged while indicating towards previous Odisha government and the then Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal.

“It is now evident that something has happened. Only an investigation can reveal the truth. It is unfortunate that the lac-seal was not present on the locks of Ratna Bhandar. There is deep mystery behind the issue of missing key and subsequent duplicate key,” said Mohapatra.

Whether there are valuables or not, can only be ascertained only after the Ratna Bhandar is opened, he said.

“I had earlier stated about the condition of Ratna Bhandar. The key is not of the locks of Ratna Bhandar. Somebody might have stolen and dumped it. Those behind it thought that the same government would come to power and such drama would continue. Everything happened during the tenure of Arvind Agarwal who said that the key had been found in an envelope. It was during his tenure that the issue of missing keys came to the fore and subsequent recovery of a duplicate key,” he said.

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“Something has happened inside Ratna Bhandar for which the keys were thrown. Now everything should be investigated. The almirah and chests should be opened,” said Mohapatra.

The Chief Badagrahi of Lord Jagannath further said that there could be some secret rooms behind almirahs as earlier during the period of Kings, all the gemstones and valuables were stored there. There should be an examination of the rooms and the public should know what is there inside Ratna Bhandar. It would take months together to complete the inventorisation process, he said.

The valuables should be shifted to another room and the Ratna Bhandar should be strengthened and repaired for its structural safety, he added.

No comments were received from the BJD or the former Puri Collector.