Dismissing allegation of deliberate delay in opening the treasury, he said: “Both inner and outer Ratna Bhandar are located adjacent to Srimandir Jagmohan. Any repair work by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the inner portion will disrupt darshan of deities.”

In August last year, the managing committee of temple had recommended the state government to allow ASI to inspect the inner Ratna Bhandar (inner vault) during Rath Yatra next year for ascertaining its structural stability. However, no decision has been taken regarding inventory of precious jewellery stored inside it.

This followed a letter from the ASI, seeking permission to examine and conserve the Ratna Bhandar. The national conservation agency had also written similar letters in 2018 and 2022.

In 2018, ASI’s technical expert committee had inspected Ratna Bhandar from outside and had mentioned about the structure being in a dilapidated condition with seepage from walls, dislocation of some stones and weakening of plaster at some places as observed from the hollow sound on tapping the surface.

Multiple PILs were filed at the Orissa High Court, seeking a direction to the state government to take steps for opening of Ratna Bhandar. In September, the HC directed the state government to constitute a high-level committee, if the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) approaches it, for supervising the process of inventory of the valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar of the 12th century shrine.

According to official sources, the last inventory of the Ratna Bhandar was made between May 13 and July 23, 1978. Though it was opened again on July 14, 1985, the inventory was not updated.

Stating that there is an atmosphere of disbelief among the people, he claimed that there are proofs of ‘loot’ of the treasury of the 12th century shrine. Therefore, the Ratna Bhandar should be opened to undertake complete inventory of gold and silver ornaments, gems and jewelleries this month itself.

The senior BJP leader said that people of the state are not ready to wait another year to know about the exact details of the Ratna Bhandar. The state government must take immediate steps to open the Ratna Bhandar now instead of waiting for the Rath Yatra next year, he said.

The demand has come at a time when the figures of silver ornaments in the Ratna Bhandar counted last in 1978 and in the affidavit filed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in the High Court recently mismatched.

Stating that the Ratna Bhandar has not been opened for the last 45 years after 1978, Mohanty said the recorded figures of the last count, details presented in the state Assembly and figures given in the court affidavit are not matching.