Gangtok: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regional director, a court-appointed commissioner, who made an inventory of the fabulous wealth of the Rumtek monastery, the headquarters of Karma Kagyu sect of Buddhism in Sikkim, has submitted his report to the lower court, but its contents were not immediately known.

The voluminous 300-page report along with videotapes and photos of the religious articles of the monastery was submitted in a sealed cover to East and North district judge S W Lepcha recently.

According to unconfirmed reports, the RBI official noted that some items were "missing" from the monastery.

He also reportedly could not identify the sacred 'Black Hat' (vajra mukut), considered to be the crown of a karmapa.

After receiving the report, the court gave a copy each to the two rival factions of the monastery for perusal, according to monastery sources.

The inventory, resented by a section of Buddhists and followers of 17th Karmapa claimnant Urgyen Thinley Dorjee, was begun by the RBI official on July 8 after the Sikkim High Court ordered it.

As per the legal procedure, the lower court would now ask both the parties to raise any point and cross-examine the RBI official on his report.

PTI