Kalighat temple vault key ‘missing’: A family seeks FIR, demands answers

A prominent West Bengal family has expressed concern over the alleged disappearance of a key to a vault at the historic Kalighat Kali Temple, months after filing a request for an FIR to a South 24 Parganas district judge. The Sabarna Roychowdhury family, who once donated land to the temple, have also raised questions about temple property management, donation records, and the temple committee's constitution.

Debarshi Roychowdhury, a family member, stated that the key to a State Bank of India locker at the temple has been missing since 1980, raising questions about the safety of the temple's valuables, jewellery, and other assets. The family submitted a letter to the Alipore district judge on March 16, seeking an explanation and investigation into the missing key.

Kalighat Kali Temple, believed to be over 200 years old, is one of Kolkata's oldest religious sites and one of 51 Shakti Peethas. Debarshi questioned where the family's donated land went, how it was transferred or altered, and where the temple's accounting records are kept. He also alleged that visitors have been charged exorbitantly for entry, and the temple committee has not held elections since 2014.