KATHMANDU, June 26: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has initiated a probe into the Jalhari controversy surrounding the Pashupatinath Temple.

A specialized team from the CIAA has successfully completed the weighing process of the gold Jalhari placed at the sanctum sanctorum of the Pashupatinath Temple. According to official sources, the weighing process commenced at 6 PM on Sunday and concluded at 2 AM on Monday.

"The weighing process for the Jalhari has been completed, and we are currently conducting a final assessment to determine its total weight, considering the Jalhari's fragmented structure," revealed an official source.

While the source indicated that an initial measurement revealed a decrease in the weight of the Jalhari, the exact extent of the reduction has not been confirmed. "We can only provide further information once the final assessment is completed," added the source.

Following repairs, the Jalhari will be reinstated within Pashupatinath Temple. The CIAA initiated an investigation in response to a complaint regarding irregularities surrounding the Jalhari.

The Auditor General's 59th annual report addresses this issue, highlighting irregularities pertaining to the utilization of the gold Jalhari within the sanctum sanctorum of Pashupatinath Temple.

For the construction of the gold Jalhari, which covers the inner sanctum sanctorum of Pashupatinath Temple, a total of 103.773 kg of gold, valued at Rs 800.11 million, was procured from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

The report confirms that after taking into account the gold's purity, as well as the inclusion of other metals and chemicals like 2.89 kg of copper, 1.249 kg of silver, and 12.75 grams of zinc used for the Jalhari and related accessories, a total of 107 kg 924.75 grams of gold (including impurities) was employed for the entire undertaking.