CIAA conducts weight measurement of Jalhari

KATHMANDU: A team from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has conducted a weight measurement of the golden Jalhari at the main shrine of Pashupatinath Temple.

The team reached the temple premises on Sunday afternoon to carry out the investigation after a complaint of misuse of gold procured to make Jalhari was filed at the CIAA.

Bhola Dahal, the spokesperson for the CIAA, stated that the weight measurement of the Jalahari was conducted following standard investigative procedures. “We will submit a report once our investigation is complete,” he added.

To facilitate the CIAA’s investigation, the temple administration temporarily restricted devotees from entering the temple premises on Sunday afternoon.

The KP Sharma Oli-led government had procured 103.773 kg of gold from Nepal Rastra Bank at a cost of Rs 800 million for the purpose of making the Jalahari and offering it to the main shrine. After mixing 2.89 kg of copper, 1.25 kg of silver, and 12.75 grams of zinc, the final weight of the Jalahari was determined to be 107 kg and 924.75 grams.

The issue of corruption while making and offering Jalahari to the Pashupatinath Temple was also raised in parliament a few weeks ago.