Puri: As controversy intensifies over the alleged use of sacred surplus wood from Puri's 2015 Nabakalebara in the newly-inaugurated Jagannath Temple at Digha, senior Daita servitor Ramakrushna Dasmahapatra on Saturday appeared before the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri for questioning.

Dasmahapatra, president of the Daita Nijog, was served a notice following a state government directive to investigate claims that leftover neem wood from the last Nabakalebara ritual was diverted to carve the idols for the Digha temple, inaugurated on April 30 in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The probe was prompted by Dasmahapatra's own comments to a West Bengal-based regional TV channel, where he purportedly admitted to using the sacred surplus wood. However, in a later press conference in Puri, the senior servitor retracted his earlier claim, asserting that the idols were carved from regular neem wood under his supervision.

The conflicting statements triggered a political and religious row, compelling the Odisha government to authorise an inquiry. Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has assured that strict action will be taken against anyone found violating protocol.

The sacred Nabakalebara ritual, held last in 2015, involves the ceremonial replacement of wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan using specially identified neem trees (darus).