Bhubaneswar: Adding to the confusion over the ongoing controversy over the missing key to Ratna Bhandar, Ravindra Mishra, a former assistant administrator of Puri Srimandir, Friday said there were no duplicate keys to the Lord’s treasure.
Addressing newsmen here, Mishra, who claimed to have entered the Ratna Bhandar in 1985, said “There was no duplicate key to Ratna Bhandar. I have opened the locks of the Bhandar in 1985 and brought out gold ornaments for repair, and it was recorded at that time. The treasury was sealed afterwards.” “The question of duplicate keys doesn’t arise. I fail to comprehend what they mean by tracing duplicate keys. The Ratna Bhandar keys should be kept with the district treasury. But, how did it go to record room,” he wondered.
However, the state government has been the custodian of the temple and its treasury since 1960, he said.
New SJTA chief
Puri: School and Mass Education Secretary Pradipta Mohaptra Friday assumed charge as chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on the direction of the state government. “Devotees from across the globe visit Srimandir and facilitating a hassle-free darshan for them and organising a smooth Rath Yatra will be my top priority,” Mohapatra told newsmen.
