KATHMANDU, June 7: Irregularities worth millions of rupees have been uncovered in relation to the golden Jalhari kept in the sanctum sanctorum of Pashupatinath Temple. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is conducting an investigation into this matter.
Sources from the CIAA have confirmed that the investigation has now reached its final stage. Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli made the decision to replace the silver Jalhari in the inner sanctum of the Pashupatinath Temple with a gold one. The anti-graft body initiated an investigation following a complaint regarding the alleged misappropriation of millions of rupees during the implementation of this decision.
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The issue has also been extensively mentioned in the 59th Annual Report of the Auditor General. The report highlights irregularities in the crafting of the gold Jalhari in the sanctum sanctorum of Pashupatinath.
"The report states that 103 kg 773 grams of gold was purchased from Nepal Rastra Bank for Rs 101 million. Different percentages of purity, along with a mixture of other metals and chemicals including 2 kg 890 grams of copper, 1 kg 249 grams of silver, and 12.75 grams of zinc, were used to create a total of 107 kg 924.75 grams of gold.
The weight of the gold used in the Jalhari, Jaldhara, Nag, Nagmurti, and Sunko Kila amounts to 96 kg 822 grams, while the remaining gold, weighing 10.97 kg, was used to create the ring for the Jalhari. The value of the gold used to make the ring is Rs 78.6 million.
However, details confirming the utilization of the entire remaining amount of gold in making the ring have not been submitted," as mentioned in the report.
