Bhubaneswar: The state government Thursday said the Justice Raghubir Das commission, formed to investigate the Ratna Bhandar key imbroglio, will complete its investigation and submit a report in three months.
A team of officials from the Puri administration had found a set of keys in a sealed envelope bearing the tag ‘Duplicate Keys of Bhitara Bhandar’ in the district record room Wednesday. The red envelope dated 1985 bore the seal and signature of the then temple authorities.
Law Minister Pratap Jena told reporters: “The reports that the set of keys recovered was not the original set have raised suspicions among people. Once the commission submits its report, everything will be clear.”
In a gazette notification, the Home department has fixed the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the functioning of the commission. The commission will examine the sequence of events and circumstances leading to the reported ‘unavailability’ of the keys to the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar. “The Terms of Reference notified by the state government are all related to the Ratna Bhandar keys. Once the investigation report is received, everything will be crystal clear,” Jena reiterated.
The notification says that the judicial panel will also investigate the role, conduct and accountability of individuals, groups or authorities for the reported non-availability of the keys. The headquarters of the Commission will be at Bhubaneswar while it may hold the inquiry at Puri or any other place as may be considered necessary for the purpose.
Earlier in the day, the Congress and the BJP continued attacking the government over the issue. Congress’ state unit president Niranjan Patnaik said: “The government is neglecting Lord Jagannath. That is why such an incident has occurred. There is a government, district administration and SJTA, how were the keys missed then and traced after some days?”
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in turn, questioned the silence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Pradhan said the CM, who in case of trivial issues reaches out to people saying that law will take its own course, has not given any statement on the missing keys. He criticised the government for not acting even after learning two months ago that the keys had gone missing.
“Security of Jagannath Temple and Ratna Bhandar are linked to the emotion and beliefs of 4 crore Odias. This has hurt the sentiments of a large number of people of the state,” he said.
“In the minutes of meeting of temple Managing Committee, it was mentioned that there was no record about the custody of the keys since 1970. If the keys were not kept in the district treasury after 1970, then where were the keys brought from to open the Ratna Bhandar twice in 1978 and 1985?” he asked.
PANEL FORMED TO SUGGEST REFORMS: In pursuance of a Supreme Court order, the state government has formed a three-member experts’ committee to study the management scheme of other important shrines such as Vaishno Devi, Somnath Temple, Golden Temple-Amritsar, Tirupati Temple, and Dharmasthala (Karnataka) Temple.
The Committee will be chaired by Additional Chief Secretary-Forest and Environment Department SC Mohapatra. The other members of the panel are IG central range S Priyadarshi and a member of SJTA Managing Committee Mohimohan Tripathy.
The panel will suggest changes as may be considered necessary for Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri.