Fake silver at Vaishno Devi? Court seeks answers
In a sharp escalation of the sensational “fake silver” offerings controversy at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine, the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Jammu has directed the Crime Branch Inquiry Officer to appear personally along with all relevant records on the next date of hearing, 29 July 2026.
The order was passed on an application filed by Advocate Deepak Sharma, who had lodged a detailed complaint on 9 May 2026 with the Inspector General of Police, Crime Branch, and SSP, Economic Offences Wing, demanding immediate registration of an FIR and a thorough probe.
The complaint accuses those responsible of serious cognizable offences, criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, record manipulation, and the possible use of cadmium-laden fake material in place of devotees’ silver offerings.
#WATCH | Jammu: Advocate Deepak Sharma says, “A few days ago, there were media reports stating that the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board had sent approximately 20 tonnes of silver offered by various devotees to a government mint for melting and processing. It was revealed that out… pic.twitter.com/5wPSqsj6WF
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2026
When the Crime Branch failed to take visible action, Sharma approached the court seeking an action-taken report and directions for FIR registration.
In response, the Crime Branch submitted a status report claiming the complaint was merely forwarded to Crime Headquarters Srinagar for approval and then to Zonal Police Headquarters Jammu for “appropriate action.”
In response, Sharma filed strong objections, arguing that bureaucratic forwarding does not constitute lawful action. He pointed out that the Crime Branch’s own Economic Offences Wing in Jammu is a notified police station, with its Superintendent of Police acting as Station House Officer.
The police, he contended, are statutorily bound under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to register a case and investigate when cognizable offences are disclosed, not shuffle papers.
He further slammed the status report for failing to mention even basic steps to preserve critical evidence, including inventory registers, stock records, CCTV footage, transportation documents, assay reports, Mint correspondence, and all electronic records related to receipt, storage, melting, and testing of the offerings.
After hearing the arguments, the court ordered the concerned Crime Branch Inquiry Officer to remain personally present with the complete record on 29 July 2026.
Katra, Jammu & Kashmir: Shyam Singh, President of the Baridar Sangharsh Samiti, says, “…The issue regarding the silver had been a subject of much discussion recently. Allegations were made that counterfeit silver was offered at the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, containing only… pic.twitter.com/vRWYwlf5e8
— IANS (@ians_india) July 14, 2026
What is the controversy?
The controversy erupted after reports revealed that around 20 tonnes of accumulated silver offerings, valued at approximately Rs.550 crore, were sent for testing and melting, but only 5-6% turned out to be genuine silver.
The rest was allegedly fake material consisting of cadmium, iron, and other inferior metals.
Sharma’s complaint demands a full investigation into whether devotees were sold counterfeit silver items by vendors and jewellers, or whether genuine offerings were substituted, diluted, pilfered, or misappropriated at any stage, from receipt and inventory to transportation, assaying, and melting. It also seeks to trace the source, manufacture, and supply chain of the cadmium-laden fake material and fix criminal responsibility on all involved officials, custodians, vendors, suppliers, handlers, and transporters.
In the past, the Cave Shrine was hit by similar accusations.
Between 2008-09 and 2012-13, a total quantity of 193.5 kg of gold was offered at the holy cave shrine. When the Shrine board authorities shifted the total quantity of gold offerings to the Govt of India Mint in Mumbai for melting, refining, assaying, and fabrication of gold coins, only 150.5 kg of pure gold was retrieved. A huge chunk of 43 kg of gold was found to be impure.
Similarly, “out of 8163.5 kgs of silver offerings received in the holy shrine between 2008-09 and 2011-12, only 2381.98 kgs of silver was retrieved at Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India Ltd, Delhi (MMTC Ltd). 5781.52 KG of silver offerings were found to be impure during the complete process”.
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2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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