Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Family Seeks FIR Over Missing Kalighat Temple Vault Key
A family connected to Kalighat Kali Temple says an important vault key has been missing since 1980.
The vault reportedly belongs to the temple and is with State Bank of India.
The family wants officials to register a police case and explain what happened.
It is also asking for records of donated money and jewellery.
The family says land it donated to the temple has greatly decreased.
It questions whether the temple committee was properly formed because it says no election has taken place since 2014.
The family also says some visitors were asked to pay large amounts of money.
Temple officials did not give a detailed response, and the treasurer criticized the family’s timing.
The family has also suggested displaying the temple’s history in three languages.
The Sabarna Roychowdhury family has sought an FIR over a temple vault key allegedly missing since 1980.
The family questions the handling of Kalighat temple valuables, donations, jewellery, property and management.
Debarshi Roychowdhury said the family submitted its concerns to the district judge on March 16.
The family claims 595 bighas donated to the temple have been reduced to 19 cottahs.
Temple officials declined detailed comment, while the treasurer said the family often raises such issues suddenly.
- Who
- The Sabarna Roychowdhury family, including Debarshi Roychowdhury, has raised the allegations; Kalighat temple committee officials responded briefly.
- What
- The family is seeking an FIR and answers about an allegedly missing vault key, temple assets, land, donations, jewellery and committee governance.
- When
- The key is alleged to have been missing since 1980; the family said it submitted a letter on March 16, while the last committee election was allegedly held in 2014.
- Where
- Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal; the letter was described as being submitted to the Alipore district judge, while the report also refers to the South 24 Parganas district judge.
- Why
- The family wants explanations and accountability concerning temple valuables, property, donations, audits, visitor charges and management.
Family’s concerns
Temple committee’s response
Missing vault key and assets
Family’s concerns
The family alleges that a State Bank of India locker key has been missing since 1980 and wants to know what happened to valuables and whether the disappearance was investigated.
Temple committee’s response
Temple president Ashok Kumar Bandyopadhyay did not comment, while treasurer Kalyan Halder declined to discuss the complaint.
Temple land and financial records
Family’s concerns
The family seeks explanations for the alleged reduction of donated land and asks for complete records and regular audits of donations and jewellery.
Temple committee’s response
The article does not report a detailed committee response to the family’s claims about land, donations or audits.
Committee functioning and visitor charges
Family’s concerns
The family questions how the committee functions without an election since 2014 and alleges that some visitors faced charges of up to Rs 10,000.
Temple committee’s response
The temple committee’s reported response was limited; its treasurer said the family has a habit of suddenly raising such issues.
- Allegedly missing key
- The family says the key to a State Bank of India locker belonging to the temple has been missing since 1980.
- Letter seeking FIR
- Debarshi Roychowdhury said the family submitted a complaint to the district judge on March 16.
- Land claim
- The family says it donated 595 bighas to the temple, of which only 19 cottahs remain.
- Committee election claim
- The family says the last election to the temple committee took place in 2014.
- Reported visitor charges
- The family alleges some visitors were asked to pay between Rs 4,000 and Rs 10,000.
- Temple history
- The present temple structure was completed in 1809 under the patronage of the Sabarna Roychowdhury family, according to cited government and historical sources.
- Official response
- Treasurer Kalyan Halder declined to comment on the complaint and said the family often raises such issues suddenly.