Concerns Raised Over Puri Temple Theft Attempt

Members of the government-appointed committee overseeing Puri Jagannath temple's Ratna Bhandar have raised suspicions regarding the use of duplicate keys to access the inner chamber, potentially indicating a theft attempt. Jagdish Mohanty, a committee member, stated that the malfunctioning of these duplicate keys necessitated breaking locks, suggesting a criminal motive was at play. The original keys have been missing since 2018, prompting an investigation ordered by the prior government. Observations from the chamber revealed that only one out of several almirahs was locked, with other chests and cupboards either unlocked or poorly secured. The committee has not been authorized to recommend a criminal investigation but intends to inform the government about their concerns. As the inventory of valuables is set to begin, the committee anticipates uncovering further details regarding any potential wrongdoing.