Jammu Court Seeks Police Probe Report In Alleged ₹550-Crore Vaishno Devi Silver Adulteration Case, Orders Preservation Of Evidence

The court's intervention came amid allegations that nearly 20 tonnes of silver offerings made by devotees at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, valued at around ₹550 crore, were found to contain only about 5-6% genuine silver, with the remaining material allegedly consisting of cadmium, iron and other inferior metals, raising serious questions as to whether genuine offerings were substituted or whether devotees had unknowingly offered adulterated silver.

Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Jammu, Munish Kumar Manhas, while hearing an application seeking registration of an FIR, directed the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Bhawan), Katra, to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and submit a detailed report. The court also ordered preservation of all relevant records and evidence to ensure that no material connected with the allegations is destroyed pending investigation.

Background:

The proceedings stem from a complaint filed by Advocate Deepak Sharma, who alleged large-scale criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and manipulation of official records concerning silver offerings made by devotees at the revered shrine.

According to the complaint, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board had recently sent approximately 20 tonnes of accumulated silver offerings to a government mint for routine melting, assaying and storage. During metallurgical examination, however, only about 5-6% of the material reportedly tested as genuine silver, while the remaining quantity allegedly consisted of cadmium, iron and other cheaper metals.

The complaint asserts that if the reports are accurate, the value of the genuine silver would fall drastically from approximately ₹550 crore to nearly ₹20-30 crore, warranting a thorough criminal investigation.

The complainant contended that it was inconceivable that lakhs of devotees from across the country would knowingly offer fake silver at one of India's most revered shrines. He therefore sought investigation into whether the silver had been adulterated before purchase by devotees or whether genuine offerings had been substituted, diluted, pilfered or misappropriated at some stage after their receipt by the Shrine Board.

Pursuant to earlier directions, the Crime Branch submitted a status report stating that the complaint had first been forwarded to Crime Headquarters, Srinagar, and thereafter transmitted to the Zonal Police Headquarters, Jammu, for appropriate action.

The complainant objected to the status report, arguing that the Crime Branch itself functions as a notified police station for economic offences and was legally required to act upon information disclosing cognisable offences in accordance with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. According to the objections, mere administrative forwarding of the complaint could not substitute the statutory obligation to examine whether registration of an FIR was warranted.

Expressing concern over the need to preserve material relevant to the inquiry, the court directed that all evidence connected with the allegations be safeguarded pending further proceedings. The Court ordered the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Katra to submit a detailed inquiry report and directed the Inquiry Officer of the Crime Branch to remain personally present with all records on the next date of hearing. The matter has been listed for further proceedings on August 18.

Case Title: Deepak Sharma Advocate Vs Inspector General Of Police Crime Branch Jammu