Kashi Vishwanath gets back stolen ornaments after 23 years

Varanasi, Nov 2 (UNI) The world famous Kashi Vishwanath temple here today got back from the district treasury its gold and silver ornaments stolen 23 years ago.

The ornaments kept in the district treasury since their recovery in 1983 only were released to Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust CEO Indra Vikram Singh by Chief Tresury Officer Pankaj Tiwari here.

Talking to UNI here, Mr Singh said he recieved the gold and silver embodiments of the temple from the Chief Treasury Officer in pursuance with a court order of October 30 last.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court here on October 30 had ordered that gold and silver ornaments stolen from the Kashi Vishwanath temple in 1983 and kept in the district treasury since their recovery be released to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust on November two between 1030 hrs to 1600 hrs.

Hearing a plea filed by the Temple Trust through its counsel Anil K Singh, CJM P N Srivastava ordered that the 2.555 kg golden and 5.817 kg silver ornaments stolen from the temple be released to the Trust from the treasury between 1030 hrs and 1600 hrs on November two.

The CJM also directed the entire process of release of gold and silver from the treasury be conducted in the presence of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Temple Trust, its counsel, public prosecutor and the Chief Treasurer of Varanasi.

In August last, former Uttar Pradesh Minister and general secretary of Citizen Forum Shatrudhra Prakash filed a PIL in the Allahabad High Court, seeking the release of the ornaments lying in treasury, in favour of the world famous temple.

A Division Bench of the HC comprising Justices B S Chauhan and Pankaj Mittal in August last directed the Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi -- also the ex officio chairman of the Temple Trust -- to submit a plea before an appropriate court as early as possible to get the ornaments back to the temple.

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