Apr 22 (NDTV): Shirdi Sai Baba temple was in for a star-studded surprise on Tuesday, when diamonds worth R85 lakh were found in the donation box, wrapped in a packet. Donations of such large value are usually made directly to the trustees since there is a chance that they might get misplaced.
However, the temple trustees were surprised to find the diamonds in their donation box. Unsure of the value of these diamonds, they formed a panel of Mumbai jewellers to come and help them evaluate it.
Naresh Mehta, Pradip Zaveri and Bharat Soni, members of the panel, were called to Shirdi on Wednesday where they gave their report.
"At first I thought the diamonds were of little value. But later when I found out that they were extremely valuable, I was surprised," said Naresh Mehta.
One of them is 6.67 carats (brilliant cut) and the other is 2.50 carats (emerald cut). Together, their value is Rs. 85 lakh. The trustees will now be approaching court in order to decide what is to be done with them.
"The Trust is now directly headed by a Bombay High Court committee. We will be referring the matter to them and they will decide what is to be done with the diamonds," said Dilip Zirpe, chief accountant, Shirdi Temple Trust.
The donation boxes in the Shirdi Sai Baba temple are emptied every day and the cash and coins are deposited in the Treasury.