Vaishnodevi Shrine Rs 550-crore ‘fake silver’ row: 116 pages of records, CCTV data under scanner

The alleged Rs.550-crore “fake silver” offerings controversy at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has entered a significant stage, with the police informing the Court that statements of certain senior officials of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, considered necessary for a comprehensive enquiry, are yet to be recorded.

The police have also disclosed that 116 pages of official records and substantial CCTV and other electronic data concerning the collection, segregation, storage, transportation and processing of the metal offerings have been received and are presently under examination.

The disclosures were made in a status report submitted by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bhawan, before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu, on September 19.

During the hearing, complainant Advocate Deepak Sharma appeared in person, while the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor filed the DySP’s report. The Court placed the report on record and perused it.

Noting that the Enquiry Officer had sought additional time for completing the enquiry, the Court granted further time on the basis of the facts and grounds stated in the report and permitted the DySP to proceed with the enquiry. The matter has now been listed for October 10, 2026.

The proceedings arise from Sharma’s complaint seeking registration of an FIR and a fair, comprehensive and scientific investigation into the alleged adulteration, substitution, pilferage and possible misappropriation of approximately 20 tonnes of silver offerings made by devotees at the revered Shrine, reportedly valued at around Rs.550 crore.

According to the status report, statements of officials of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Pujaris, CRPF personnel deployed at Bhawan, J&K Police officials and Shrine Board security personnel connected with the relevant process have already been recorded.

The police stated that the procedure followed within the Bhawan premises for the collection, handling, segregation and storage of the “white metal” in the Strong Room/Store had been ascertained through the statements of the persons concerned.

Significantly, the report states that the statements of certain senior and concerned Shrine Board officials at Bhawan, whose examination is considered necessary for a comprehensive enquiry, are still to be recorded.

The DySP further informed the Court that correspondence had been addressed to the Joint Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board/SDM Bhawan, seeking preservation and production of the relevant CCTV footage.

The footage sought reportedly concerns the entire process relating to the metal offerings, including their collection, segregation, storage in the Strong Room/Store, transportation from Bhawan to Katra and the procedure followed thereafter.

The police also sought production of the relevant orders, Standard Operating Procedures, rules, guidelines and prescribed procedures governing the handling, storage, transportation and processing of the offerings.

Records relating to the Indian Government Mint were also sought from the Shrine Board for preservation and examination.

 According to the report, the material supplied in response to the police correspondence was received on August 18. It comprises 116 pages containing orders, SOPs, procedures and records relating to the handling, storage, transportation and processing of the metal offerings.

The report further states that the CCTV and other electronic data received are substantial in volume and require detailed and systematic examination.

The footage, according to the police, must be carefully viewed to identify relevant events, persons, movements and sequences and thereafter correlated with the statements of the persons concerned and the documentary material collected during the enquiry.

Citing the volume of the documentary and electronic evidence, the DySP sought further time to complete the scrutiny, verification and submission of the final enquiry report.

 Significantly, despite the complaint having remained under examination for more than four months, the status report does not disclose registration of an FIR.

“The police have now formally placed before the Court that substantial documentary and electronic evidence has been obtained, that several categories of officials and security personnel have been examined, and that the statements of senior Shrine Board officials considered necessary for a comprehensive enquiry are still to be recorded,” Advocate Deepak Sharma said.

Sharma further said “The report marks progress, but it also confirms that the enquiry remains incomplete. The senior officials responsible for supervision, custody, transportation, processing, accounting and institutional decision-making must be examined so that responsibility, if any, is determined from the highest level to the operational level. It is equally essential that the original physical material, samples, remnants, resultant bars, CCTV footage, electronic records, Mint documents, audit records and chain-of-custody material are protected against alteration, melting, transfer, destruction, deletion or overwriting. The allegations are yet to be investigated and judicially determined. The pending relief seeking registration of an FIR and a fair, comprehensive and scientific investigation shall continue to be pursued before the competent Court in accordance with law.”