Kalighat vault key ‘missing since 1980', FIR sought

Kolkata: The Sabarna Roychowdhury Family Council has approached the South 24-Parganas district judge seeking registration of an FIR over the alleged disappearance of the key to a vault containing valuables of Kalighat's Kali Temple. The district judge, who is also ex-officio chairman of the Kalighat Temple Committee, received a written complaint claiming that the key to the vault at a nationalised bank has been missing since 1980. The Council said jewellery offered by devotees and other valuable temple articles are stored in the vault. Reportedly, it expressed concern that the missing key has made it impossible to verify the vault's contents or ascertain whether the jewellery and other valuables remain intact. The family council has also sought details of the temple's assets and property records from the authorities. The Council further alleged that elections to the Temple Committee have not been held since 2014, raising concerns over the monitoring and preservation of the temple's assets. A committee official said it was ready to respond if the matter comes up before the district court. Kalighat temple is among India's 52 'Shakti Peeths'.