Banke Bihari temple Toshkhana opened after 54 years under SC panel

The ‘Toshkhana’ (treasury) of the Banke Bihari temple in Mathura, which had remained locked since 1971, was opened for the second consecutive day on Sunday to complete the remaining inspection work as directed by the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee. The room was accessed under the supervision of a civil judge (junior division) and the city magistrate, along with members of the committee, including four Goswami representatives, said committee member Shailendra Goswami. According to Dinesh Goswami, another committee member, a detailed inventory of items inside the treasury was prepared. Among the discoveries were two copper coins in one safe, three to four stones in another, and three silver sticks along with one golden stick with gulal, likely used by Thakur Ji during Holi celebrations. He added that the inspection work is now complete and there is nothing left to search. City Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Singh declined to comment, stating that a report would be submitted to the committee for further review.

The treasury was first opened on Saturday after 54 years under court supervision, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive. Located adjacent to the temple’s sanctum sanctorum, the ‘Toshkhana’ came under the oversight of a 12-member high-powered interim committee constituted in August 2025 by the Supreme Court and headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Ashok Kumar. ADM (Finance and Revenue) Dr Pankaj Kumar Verma described the initial opening, noting that the process, which faced some difficulties, started at 1 pm and concluded at 5 pm when the room was sealed again. The items found included some brass utensils, wooden items, and boxes, but no precious metals. An auditor’s team prepared a detailed inventory, and the remaining work is expected to be completed on a date decided by the civil judge.

However, the opening of the treasury faced opposition from members of the Goswami community. Shailendra Goswami stated that the room should not have been opened, arguing that the interim committee, constituted by the Supreme Court to facilitate devotees’ ‘darshans,’ was exceeding its authority. Supreme Court lawyer and temple servitor Sumit Goswami echoed these concerns, saying the committee was not empowered to open the ‘Toshkhana’ and should focus solely on devotees’ access. Questions were also raised about transparency, as media coverage and live streaming of the process were not allowed, though videography was done. Srivardhan Goswami, another committee member, was absent due to health reasons. Gyanendra Goswami, a temple functionary, emphasized that the process should have been more transparent and criticized the committee for straying from the apex court’s primary objective of improving facilities for devotees.