The issue of the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the 12th century Puri Shree Jagannath temple is back in focus with law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan asserting that the BJP government is keen to expose the people behind the “conspiracy”.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will also begin the repair work of the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) and a decision on conducting laser scanning of its inner chamber was likely to be taken soon.

“The babus during the previous government enacted a drama about the missing Ratna Bhandar keys. We will expose those behind the conspiracy not to allow the opening of the Ratna Bhandar,” said Harichandan.

The law minister asserted that the government would conduct a thorough probe to ascertain who was responsible for the missing keys which became a mystery. He said the whole drama was started by a group of bureaucrats in the previous government and they will be exposed with action taken against them.

Admitting that sentiments of lakhs of Odias were attached to the temple, senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former minister Amar Prasad Satapathy also called for a proper investigation to ascertain the circumstances under which the keys of Ratna Bhangar went missing. He said that the report of the Commission of Inquiry that probed the issue should also be made public.

Harichandan said that the ASI had already conducted a preliminary inspection of Ratna Bhandar and the process of repairing the outer and inner chambers of the treasury would begin soon. He also pointed out that since it was necessary to make some modifications in the standard operating procedure (SOP) for carrying out repairs in the treasury of the 12th century shrine, the required changes had already been made.

Underscoring the importance of smooth conduct of temple rituals during the repair work, the minister said discussions had been held with the servitors in this regard and the exact date for starting the repair work would be announced shortly. Stating that the ASI would first conduct repair of the outer (Bahara) Ratna Bhandar, Harichandan said a decision on conducting laser scanning of the inner chamber would be taken soon.

The missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar, which was reopened by the new BJP government of the state recently after 46 years, was a major election issue with even Prime Minister Narendra Modi harping on it at his campaign rallies in the state.

The Ratna Bhandar was finally reopened on July 14. The last time this fabled treasure of the temple had been opened in 1978 and an inventory of ornaments and jewels stored there was made.

When it was opened on July 14, the special team constituted for the purpose found that two of the three locks in Ratna Bhandar had no seal. The locks could not be opened even the keys provided by the Puri collector. The locks had to be broken in the presence of the magistrate for the team to enter the Ratna Bhandar.

The inventory of the gold ornaments is yet to be made.