A Jammu court has mandated a detailed inquiry and appropriate action concerning allegations of a massive diversion of silver offerings at the revered Vaishno Devi shrine. The Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Jammu directed the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Katra to submit a comprehensive report on the matter, which involves claims of approximately 20 tonnes of silver, valued at around Rs 550 crore, being adulterated, substituted, pilfered, and potentially misappropriated. The court’s intervention stems from an application seeking the urgent preservation of evidence related to these alleged financial irregularities.
The judicial proceedings were initiated following a complaint lodged by advocate Deepak Sharma. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that Sharma initially presented his grievance on May 9 to the Inspector General of Police, Crime Branch, Jammu, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch, Economic Offences Wing, Jammu. Subsequently, the complaint was forwarded to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, for an inquiry, which was eventually assigned to the DSP (Bhawan), Katra. At the time of the court’s latest order, no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered, indicating that the matter was still in the inquiry phase.
During a hearing on July 29, advocate Sharma filed a detailed application urging the court to mandate the immediate preservation of all physical, documentary, and electronic evidence connected to the alleged transactions. The application specifically sought the safeguarding of any remaining silver or purported silver articles, along with samples, remnants, and residues. It also called for the preservation of stock and vault records, weighing and dispatch registers, laboratory reports, records from government mints, transportation documents, and the complete chain-of-custody documentation pertaining to the silver offerings. Furthermore, the plea emphasized the critical need to protect CCTV footage, electronic inventory data, official emails, server logs, access records, audit trails, accounting records, reconciliation statements, and all other digital evidence relevant to the alleged diversions.
Sharma’s application underscored the potential for irreversible damage to the evidence if immediate preservation measures were not taken. It was submitted to the court that any further melting, refining, transfer, or processing of the physical material, or the deletion or overwriting of electronic records, could irrevocably compromise the identity, composition, weight, purity, and chain of custody of the evidence. This could significantly hinder any subsequent investigation into the alleged misappropriation of devotees’ offerings.
The court, presided over by Chief Judicial Magistrate Munish Kumar Manhas, took Sharma’s application on record. In its directive dated July 29, the court instructed the DSP to take appropriate action concerning the facts presented in the evidence-preservation plea. The DSP was further ordered to submit a detailed report on the ongoing inquiry to the court on the next date of hearing, which has been scheduled for August 18. This judicial order signifies a critical step in the process, moving beyond initial complaint handling to a court-supervised investigation into the serious allegations of financial impropriety at one of India‘s most prominent pilgrimage sites.
The scale of the alleged diversion, involving approximately 20 tonnes of silver with an estimated value of Rs 550 crore, highlights the gravity of the situation. Such a significant quantity of offerings represents the faith and generosity of millions of devotees who visit the shrine annually. The allegations, if proven, would not only constitute a major financial crime but also deeply impact the trust placed in the management of the shrine’s affairs. The investigation will likely scrutinize the entire process of receiving, storing, and accounting for the silver donations, from the point of donation to its final disposition.
Legal experts suggest that the court’s intervention at this stage, particularly the emphasis on evidence preservation, is crucial for ensuring the integrity of any future investigation or potential prosecution. The meticulous documentation of physical and digital evidence is paramount in financial crime cases, where paper trails and digital footprints can be easily manipulated or destroyed. The court’s directive to preserve CCTV footage, electronic inventory, and audit trails is a standard but vital procedure in such circumstances.
The Vaishno Devi shrine, located in the Trikuta Mountains of the Indian Himalayas, is managed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The board is responsible for the administration, management, and development of the shrine and its surrounding areas, including the handling of all donations received from pilgrims. Allegations of financial irregularities, particularly involving substantial sums, necessitate a thorough and transparent investigation to maintain public confidence and uphold the sanctity of the pilgrimage. The outcome of the DSP’s inquiry and the subsequent court proceedings will be closely watched, as they pertain to the financial probity and operational transparency of a major religious institution.
The timeline of events, from the initial complaint in May to the court’s order in July, indicates a deliberate and systematic approach by the complainant to escalate the matter and ensure due process. The referral of the complaint through various police branches before reaching the DSP in Katra suggests an attempt to ensure that the inquiry was handled by the appropriate investigative unit with jurisdiction over the shrine’s location. The current focus on evidence preservation by the court underscores the urgency of the situation and the potential for evidence tampering.
The legal framework governing the management of religious trusts and endowments in India often includes provisions for oversight and accountability. Devotees and concerned citizens have the right to seek redressal if they suspect mismanagement or misappropriation of funds and offerings. Advocate Sharma’s action, therefore, represents an exercise of such rights, bringing a potentially significant issue to the attention of the judiciary. The court’s role is to ensure that the investigation is conducted fairly and that all evidence is preserved, paving the way for a just resolution.
The next hearing on August 18 will be critical, as it is expected to reveal the initial findings of the DSP’s inquiry and the steps taken towards evidence preservation. The court’s subsequent actions will depend on the details presented in the report and whether further judicial intervention is deemed necessary to ensure a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the alleged Rs 550 crore silver diversion at the Vaishno Devi shrine.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.