Odisha Govt To Probe Why Duplicate Keys Failed To Open Puri Srimandir's Ratna Bhandar Locks

Bhubaneswar, July 16: The Odisha government has said it will conduct an inquiry into why the duplicate keys of the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar, the treasure trove, of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath temple in Puri, failed to open the locks on July 14.

Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Monday said, "A lie was spread over the availability of duplicate keys of the Ratna Bhandar during the previous BJD government. This matter will definitely be investigated."

"Who had said about the duplicate keys of the Ratna Bhandar and under whose instruction will also be examined," he added.

The Minister also expressed hope that no one had touched Lord Jagannath's ornaments, as doing so would have consequences.

The Ratna Bhandar of the Srimandir was reopened on Sunday after 46 years for an inventory of valuables and the repair of its structure.

Newly appointed Shree Jagannath Temple Administrator (SJTA) chief, Arabinda Padhee said that members of a special committee tried to open three locks on the doors of the inner chamber of the treasury using two 'duplicate' keys available with the Puri district administration but none of the locks could be opened.

As the three locks could not be opened using the duplicate keys on Sunday, the special committee members followed the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the State government and broke the three locks in the presence of a magistrate to enter the inner chamber, Padhee said.

On April 4, 2018, the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government attempted to reopen the Ratna Bhandar for a physical examination, but the effort was unsuccessful due to the unavailability of the keys. After some days, the government said duplicate keys were found.

Later in June 2018, a commission was formed to probe the circumstances under which the keys of the Ratna Bhandar went missing. The panel submitted its report to the state government in November of that year, but it was not made public.

The reopening of the Ratna Bhandar was a major political issue during the recently held assembly elections. The BJP came to power in the polls dethroning the BJD which was ruling the state since 2000.

According to sources, the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar at the 12th-century Sri Jagannath Temple boasts a collection of the rarest jewelry, including diamonds, gold, and precious gems.

These treasures, donated over centuries by devotees and kings to Lord Jagannath, are preserved and cataloged, sources said.