KATHMANDU, June 27: A team from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has reported a shortfall in the weight of the gold Jalhari installed at the sanctum sanctorum of the Pashupatinath temple. According to the commission, the expected weight should have been 107.76 kg, but upon weighing, only 107.4687 kg was found.
The CIAA team visited the Pashupati area on Sunday evening to conduct the weighing, but the commission has yet to provide an official explanation regarding the decrease in the amount of gold. Meanwhile, the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has claimed that 188 grams of gold is missing from the Jalhari. However, the CIAA officials investigating the matter have refrained from offering a formal response and have confirmed that a confidential investigation is underway.
The team from the authority included representatives from the gold and silver business federation, the weight and quality department, as well as the mining and geology department. The measurement process commenced at 6 PM on Sunday and was concluded at 2 o'clock in the morning on Monday, as per sources.
Responding to the findings, PADT Spokesperson Rewati Raman Adhikari stated that the measured weight by the CIAA team does not account for the 188 grams of gold in the Jalhari, ring, and box kept within the sanctum sanctorum. Adhikari explained, "This small amount of gold may have been consumed during the one and a half years that the Jalhari has been in the sanctum sanctorum due to regular worship. It is natural for some gold to be lost over time."
CIAA intensifies investigation into Pashupatinath Jalhari case
While PADT Spokesperson claims that only 188 grams of gold was missing in Jalhari, CIAA’s calculation reveals that 291.29 grams of gold seems to be missing.
Meanwhile, a senior officer from the CIAA has expressed serious concerns regarding the response provided by the PADT official, who claimed that only a small amount of gold was missing. The officer stated, "A confidential investigation is currently underway regarding the Jalhari controversy at the Pashupatinath Temple. It is inappropriate for PADT officials to publicly discuss the details of the ongoing secret investigation conducted by the authority."
In regard to the installation of the gold Jalhari, which adorns the inner sanctum sanctorum of the Pashupatinath Temple, a total of 103.773 kg of gold, valued at Rs 800.11 million, was procured from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
The report confirms that after accounting for the gold's purity, along with the inclusion of other metals and chemicals such as 2.89 kg of copper, 1.249 kg of silver, and 12.75 grams of zinc used for the Jalhari and associated accessories, a total of 107 kg 924.75 grams of gold (including impurities) was utilized for the entire project.
Placement of Jalhari at Pashupati Temple yet to be determined
The spokesperson for PADT, Adhikari, has stated that a decision regarding the reinstallation of the Jalhari in the sanctum sanctorum of Pashupati Temple has not been finalized. Although there were initial discussions about placing it on Tuesday, as of Monday evening, the specific date for the reinstallation has not been determined, according to an official.
In the meantime, the CIAA has lodged a case with the Special Court against Pradeep Dhakal, the former member secretary of Pashupati Area Development Trust, alleging financial irregularities. Dhakal is accused of acquiring assets worth Rs 14.4 million from undisclosed sources. He held the position of member secretary of PADT from August 16, 2017, to June 13, 2022. The CIAA has conducted an investigation into the assets obtained by Dhakal during his tenure.
