Man held with spy glasses inside Puri Jagannath Temple, three servitors suspended for violations

Puri (Odisha): A devotee from Gujarat was detained on Friday after he was found carrying spectacles fitted with hidden cameras inside the Jagannath Temple in Puri, where photography and videography are strictly banned, officials said.

The accused, identified as Bharat Pandya from Ahmedabad, was intercepted by temple security personnel after his suspicious behaviour drew attention. Authorities said this was the fifth such incident in recent months involving visitors attempting to bring concealed recording devices into the 12th-century shrine.

In a separate incident, another man, Shankar Mishra from Jajpur district, was caught entering the sanctum sanctorum disguised as a servitor. Police said it is challenging for officers to identify imposters dressed like temple priests, as only authorised servitors or temple police can make such distinctions.

Following repeated security breaches, both temple servitors and devotees have urged the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to strengthen the legal framework and tighten surveillance inside the temple premises.

Meanwhile, the SJTA has suspended three servitors for misconduct and violation of temple protocols. Suar Badu servitor Narayan Panda and Khuntia servitor Rajaram Khuntia were suspended for two months after clashing over devotees’ offerings and allegedly collecting money in violation of temple rules. Mahasuar servitor Bena Mahasuar was also suspended for using vanaspati instead of OMFED ghee during rituals, an official said.

The temple administration has reiterated its commitment to maintaining discipline and tradition within the shrine while ensuring strict security measures for devotees.

(with inputs from agencies)