Puri, June 24: Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has firmly denied allegations surrounding the alleged theft of Dashamula Modaka, a sacred medicinal offering meant for Lord Jagannath during confidential rituals at the Shri Jagannath Temple.
Addressing the controversy, the minister accused certain servitors of spreading misinformation for self-glorification and warned of strict action against those attempting to mislead the public. “An investigation will be initiated, and legal steps will be taken against anyone found guilty of fabricating such claims,” he stated.
Harichandan emphasized that the Dashamula Modaka, used in secret rituals, is never formally counted, thereby ruling out the possibility of theft. The issue came to light after a complaint was lodged by senior servitor and chief guardian of Lord Balabhadra, Haladhar Das Mahapatra.
In response, the minister promptly sought a detailed report from Shri Mandir’s Chief Administrator Aravind Padhee. Following a preliminary probe, Padhee confirmed that no theft had occurred. “Initial findings suggest the allegations are not fact-based. However, further investigation is underway,” Padhee said.
Explaining the process, Padhee noted that the Dashamula Modaka is handed over to the temple by the Vaidya Sevak (traditional healer) and not counted or handled by temple staff. It is later taken away by the Daitapati Nijoga servitors as part of established ritual practice.
Records show that the Vaidya Sevak submitted 313 Dashamula Modaka, as documented in the temple’s official logbook. No discrepancies or complaints were reported by the servitors involved in its handling.
Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the temple administration is taking the matter seriously due to the senior servitor’s involvement. “CCTV footage will be examined as part of the ongoing investigation,” Padhee confirmed.
The incident has sparked debate within temple circles, with authorities assuring transparency and accountability in all ritual-related proceedings.
