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Jammu & Kashmir : Months after controversies surrounding donations and procurement at the Ayodhya Ram Temple drew national attention, another major religious institution has come under scrutiny. This time, the spotlight is on the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, where questions have been raised over the authenticity of silver offerings reportedly worth more than ₹500 crore.
The controversy revolves around nearly 20 tonnes of silver donated by devotees over the years. According to reports, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board sent the accumulated silver to a government mint for melting and purity testing.
The consignment was estimated to be worth around ₹550 crore based on its weight and expected purity. However, the findings allegedly shocked officials. Reports claim that laboratory testing found only 5–6% of the material to be genuine silver, while more than 90% was reportedly found to consist of non-silver or other materials. The findings have sparked serious questions over whether fake silver was donated by devotees over the years or whether genuine silver may have been replaced at some stage.
The issue has now reached the judiciary. Taking note of the matter, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Jammu, presided over by Munish Kumar Manhas, has directed the investigating officer of the Crime Branch to appear personally before the court with all relevant records related to the case.
The court is expected to examine the investigation in detail to determine how such a large discrepancy could have occurred. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for July 29.
The controversy has generated widespread public interest, as the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is one of India’s most visited pilgrimage sites, receiving millions of devotees and substantial offerings every year. The case has also raised broader concerns about the management, verification, and safeguarding of precious donations made at prominent religious institutions.
At this stage, no court has concluded that a scam or theft took place. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are yet to determine whether the discrepancy resulted from counterfeit donations, administrative lapses, or any criminal wrongdoing.
The outcome of the Crime Branch investigation and the court proceedings is expected to provide greater clarity in the coming weeks.
