A dispute has broken out at the well known Bihariji temple in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, after a businessman's family alleged that a diamond worth around Rs 3.65 lakh, offered to the deity, is missing from the idol. The family, residents of Ranjeet Nagar in the city, says a glass like piece now sits where the diamond used to be fixed, and they have written to the Chief Minister, the Devasthan Department and the local MLA demanding a fair investigation.
A diamond offered out of devotion in 2024
Meera Bansal, mother of businessman Praveen Bansal, had donated the diamond to Lord Bihariji in 2024 as an act of faith. The stone was fixed into the nath, the nose ring, of the deity's idol, adding to its ornamentation. For the family, the offering was not just a gift but a mark of generations of devotion to the deity.
Devotees noticed the change first, then the family checked for themselves
Some time after the donation, devotees visiting the temple and people known to the family began telling them that the stone on the idol no longer looked the same and had lost the sparkle a diamond would have. Hearing this, the family visited the temple themselves and examined the idol closely. Kripali, the daughter in law of Meera Bansal, said the stone currently fixed on the idol did not resemble the diamond that had been offered earlier. That is when the family began suspecting the original diamond may have been swapped.
Requests for receipts and records went unanswered
The family says it approached the Devasthan Department multiple times asking for the receipt and records related to the donated diamond, but no documents were handed over. They also asked officials to get the stone examined so the truth could be established, but that request too did not get a satisfactory response, deepening their concern.
Officials tried to calm things down, but the family's demand stayed the same
The family alleges that some officials and staff members later spoke to them in an attempt to settle the matter quietly. However, the family insists its demand is straightforward, it simply wants confirmation on whether the original diamond offered to the deity is still fixed on the idol. They say they still hold the purchase bill, certificate and other documents related to the diamond. Their intention, they add, is not to accuse anyone but to get a transparent probe that brings out the facts. So far, the family has not filed any police complaint and is waiting for the departmental inquiry to conclude first.
Commissioner says it is too early to say diamond or glass
Devasthan Department commissioner Mukesh Kumar Meena said he was not posted at the temple when the diamond was donated, so he has no information about the process followed or the receipt issued at the time. He noted that there is a mismatch between the donation date recorded in the department's files and the date the family has cited. According to the commissioner, it is still not clear whether the stone currently on the idol is a diamond or a piece of glass, and that can only be confirmed after a proper examination.
A committee has been formed, and everyone is waiting for its report
The department has now formed a committee to investigate the entire episode. Once the committee submits its findings, it will become clear whether the original diamond offered to the deity is still present on the idol or not. The dispute has already become a major talking point among devotees in Bharatpur, and all eyes are now on the investigation report that could settle the controversy once and for all.
