Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Tuesday firmly dismissed the ongoing allegations surrounding the alleged theft of modaks from the Jagannath Temple in Puri, stating that no such theft has occurred. He termed the entire controversy a product of misinformation.
Reacting publicly for the first time since the issue erupted, the Law Minister clarified that there has never been any official record or count of how many modaks were offered or received.
“No one has ever maintained a register of exactly how many modaks are handed over for rituals. So, to claim that 70 modaks went missing is baseless. SJTA Chief Administrator has already clarified. The allegations that the modaks have been taken away before it were offered to the deities are baseless,” he stated.
“No modak has been stolen from Srimandir,” said Harichandan, dismissing the claims raised by certain temple servitors, especially the Badagrahi.
The Minister described the allegations as ‘misleading and irresponsible’, asserting that ‘some individuals are making such accusations to seek cheap popularity and personal glory. Such matters are being reviewed.’
He further warned that ‘those who are trying to create confusion and tarnish the temple’s image in the name of ritualistic violations must be held accountable under the law.’ Harichandan criticized what he described as attempts to ‘politicise religious rituals’ for personal gain.
The row began when a senior servitor alleged that 70 out of 313 amuniya modaks meant for Lord Jagannath’s ritual on June 21 went missing from the temple’s secure ‘garada ghara’. The matter quickly gained public attention, triggering widespread concern and calls for investigation.
However, the Law Minister’s strong rebuttal now introduces a new dimension, raising questions about the authenticity of the original complaint and the motivations behind it.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear- the incident has highlighted a pressing need for better documentation, transparency, and coordination between servitors and the temple administration to avoid such controversies in the future.
Earlier in the day, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabinda Padhee stated that the initial allegations raised by the Badagrahi are not backed by verified evidence and emphasized the need for a more thorough investigation.
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