Embezzlement of Rs.1800 crores by managers of Sri Bhavani Devi Temple, Tuljapur

Ashwin Shuklapaksha Saptami, Kaliyug Varsha 5115

Hindus need to understand ill effects of ‘Governmentalization’ of temples and strongly fight for transfer of management of temples from Govt. to devotees !

• Connivance of temple employees, officers and contractors !

• Kishore Gangane, President of ‘Pujari Mandal’ exposes fraud !    

• Inquiry to be conducted of 23 officers !

In Hindu Rashtra, all wealth accumulated by such corrupt persons will be confiscated and they will be stringently punished as per the then prevailing laws  !

Tuljapur (Dharashiv) – Before the year 2009, donation boxes at Sri Bhavani Devi Temple used to be auctioned. There was lot of difference between the offerings made by devotees and amount of auction; besides, it is suspected by the State Crime Investigation Department that (CID) contractors auctioning donation boxes, employees of Temple Sansthan and officers have embezzled about 160 kgs of gold, 2000 kgs of silver, valuable things, costly clothes etc. totally amounting to Rs. 1800 crores during the past 20 years.  (Tuljapur temple is managed by the Government; even then, there is corruption because in Government service, nobody works out of love for God. Every Government employee is imparted training on secularism instead of abiding by Dharma; therefore, not only they are involved in corrupt practices but they also allow others to indulge in the same. To bring about change in this situation, temples should be handed over to devotees for managing and for that establishment of Hindu Rashtra is the only alternative ! – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)

1. In 2010, Kishore Gangane, the President of ‘Pujari Mandal’ at Tuljapur had lodged a complaint with Charity Commissioner, Latur in this connection. Investigation of the matter was handed over to CID.

2. Investigations by CID show that the misappropriation pertains to the period of 1991 to 2010. (When corruption is going on for past so many years, how the temple management or the Government did not realize the same or are they all involved in it ? All of them need to be stringently punished. – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)

3. During these 20 years, 2-3 groups of contractors only used to bid for auction of ‘Simhasan’ donation box of this temple and the box used to be kept with respective group. Everyone was hands in glove with each other.

4. As per the terms of auction, it is necessary to deposit cash from this donation box with contractor and valuable ornaments with Temple ‘Sansthan’; but during the above period, contractors have only pocketed everything and not even deposited the amount of bidding.

5. During the period of 20 years, temple ‘Sansthan’ has received only 46.7 gms gold and 512.5 gms silver.

6. As per the application submitted by Shri. Gangane for verifying the amount of income, a sealed box was opened on order issued by the Charity Commissioner after 32 days, on 19th March 2010. The box contained cash of Rs. 23,13,000/-; 441 gms of gold and 6171 gms of silver, total worth Rs. 31, 86,000/-.

7. Devotees offer the Goddess not just gold or silver; but also ornaments with valuable stones, diamonds, pearls etc.

8. It has been inferred that every year, the temple has lost income of minimum Rs. 5 crores.

9. In this connection, witnesses of 81 persons have been registered and inquiry will be conducted of 23 officers on the post of Chief Manager of Temple Administration during the said period when such misappropriation took place.

10. It has been observed by CID that the misappropriation has taken place with the connivance of employees of temple administration and contractors and a report to that effect has been submitted to Upper Director General of Police.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat