Jagannath Temple’s Missing Keys: Political Drama Unfolds Over Sacred Treasures

In April 2018, Jagannath temple officials couldn’t find the Ratna Bhandar keys during a court-mandated inspection. This stirred controversy and drew attention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his public addresses.

Modi highlighted the missing keys issue during his visit to the temple, alleging the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) suppressed a judicial commission report. He emphasized the Ratna Bhandar’s significance, holding offerings from devotees worldwide.

Patnaik ordered a judicial inquiry, and while the commission submitted its report in November 2018, it remains unpublished. The discovery of an envelope labeled “duplicate keys” added fuel to the controversy.

Modi accused the BJD of hiding the commission’s report for six years, promising to reveal it if the BJP gained power in Odisha. This issue remained central to Modi and other BJP leaders’ election campaign.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also pledged to disclose the report, while BJP President JP Nadda promised an investigation into the missing keys and vowed transparency regarding the Ratna Bhandar’s treasures.

BJP leaders stressed the cultural and religious significance of the Jagannath temple to Odisha’s people, urging transparency. Meanwhile, the BJD relied on a committee headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Arijit Pasayat to oversee the Ratna Bhandar’s inventory, as mandated by the Orissa High Court.

The Ratna Bhandar, housing treasures donated over centuries, comprises inner and outer chambers categorized under Sri Jagannath Temple Rules. According to temple regulations, it must undergo inventory every three years, with the last audit in 1978 revealing substantial offerings.