High Court rebukes supporters of corruption in Shri Tuljabhavani mandir; orders Collector to appear in court!

Failure to act against corrupt officials of Shri Tuljabhavani Mandir despite court order sparks controversy!

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court, led by Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Y.G. Khobragade, has issued a contempt notice to Smt. Sujata Saunik, Additional Chief Secretary of the Maharashtra State Home Department, for failing to act against those involved in corruption at Shri Tuljabhavani mandir. The court has also ordered Dharashiv District Collector Dr. Sachin Ombase to appear before it. The contempt petition, filed by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti through advocates Suresh Kulkarni and Umesh Bhadgaonkar, highlights the ongoing inaction despite earlier court directives aimed at addressing the corruption within the mandir administration.

Failure to act against corrupt officials of Sri #Tuljabhavani Mandir despite court order sparks controversy!

High Court rebukes supporters of corruption in Sri Tuljabhavani mandir; orders Collector to appear in court.🛕@CMOMaharashtra@maharashtra_hmo@HinduJagrutiOrg pic.twitter.com/MfMx4srMQr

— Sunil Ghanwat🛕🛕 (@SG_HJS) August 7, 2024

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court has mandated the filing of a criminal case against 16 individuals, including auctioneers, mandir workers, trustees, and government officials, involved in a significant corruption scandal at Shri Tuljabhavani mandir. The corruption, which involved the auction of donation boxes of the mandir from 1991 to 2009, amounts to Rs. 8,45,97,000. In 2011, under the direction of then-Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, the State Crime Investigation Department began investigating the scam. However, due to the involvement of administrative officials and public representatives, the investigation stalled for almost 5 years. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, supported by the Hindu Vidhigya Parishad, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 2015 to expedite the matter. On May 9th, 2024, the High Court not only ordered the filing of criminal charges but also annulled the government’s decision to close the investigation. The court instructed that the investigation continue under the supervision of a senior officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police from the Criminal Investigation Department. Despite this, the state government has not adhered to the court’s order, leading to further legal scrutiny.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti filed a contempt petition against Maharashtra’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department), Director General of Police, District Police Chief Dharashiv, and Collector Dharashiv for failing to act on the Bombay High Court’s orders regarding Shri Tuljabhavani mandir corruption case. During the hearing, on August 1st, 2024, advocates Suresh Kulkarni and Umesh Bhadgaonkar of the Hindu Vidhigya Parishad argued that these officials were deliberately violating the court’s judgment, showing bias towards those involved in corruption. Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Y.G. Khobragade of the High Court issued a show-cause notice to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department) and directed Collector Dharashiv to appear before the court on September 2nd, 2024. The High Court emphasized that the registration of offenses should continue, irrespective of the contempt petition.

Shri Tuljapur mandir, a revered site for millions of devotees, has been plagued by corruption despite its funds being contributed with faith by the public. The government, which has taken control of the temple to ensure good governance, has failed to address ongoing corruption issues that have persisted for over 30 years. Instead, the government appears to be supporting those involved in the corrupt practices. Advocate Suresh Kulkarni, representing the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, stated that this situation led to the filing of a contempt petition with the Bombay High Court. The petition challenges the government’s inaction and alleged support for corrupt officials, highlighting the disparity between the promised good governance and the reality of ongoing corruption.