CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to shift the 522 silver bricks seized from Emar Mutt on February 28 to the district armoury located inside the Police Reserve for secure custody. Other seizures, including 17 kg of gold, 3.43 quintals of melted silver, 5 kg of ancient silver coins and other valuables should also be shifted to the armoury.
The single judge bench of Justice M M Das has also directed that the seized ` 16.54 lakh in cash should be deposited in a interest bearing account in a bank. A complete seizure list should also be submitted by the police to the Commissioner of Endowments.
The direction to shift the seized silver ingots valued at nearly Rs 90 crore came after a submission by the Puri SP that the property was not safe inside the mutt.
The High Court had earlier on March 3 restricted the police from shifting the bricks and other valuables from the mutt on the basis of a petition filed by hereditary trustee Mahant Rajgopal Ramanuja Das claiming that they were the exclusive property of the mutt.
Ramanuja Das was, however, arrested for his involvement in the theft of the silver ingots from the mutt and suspended by the Commissioner of Endowments.
Appearing for the State, Additional Government Advocate V Narsingh submitted that the Mutt was in a dilapidated condition and not suitable for safekeeping of the valuable property. He appealed for directions to shift the seized items to a secure place.
The Court also allowed the interim Trust Board to implead itself as a petitioner in the case.
The interim managing trustee Mahanta Sr Indra Raman Ramanuja Das had filed an intervention petition staking claim on the seized property and seeking proper maintenance and safe custody of the seized silver bricks along with other valuables.
Following the suspension of the Mahant Rajgopal Ramanuja Das, the Commissioner of Endowments had formed a five-member interim Trust Board to manage the affairs of the mutt.
The next date of hearing has been fixed to first week of May.