Scam : Misappropriation of billions of rupees at Varad Vinayak Temple, one of ‘Ashtavinayak’ temples !

Scam involving misappropriation of billions of rupees at Varad Vinayak Temple of Mahad (Dist. Raigad) which is one of the ‘Ashta-Vinayak’ temples !

Local residents accuse trustees and Charity Commissioner

• 5th Day of hunger strike by local residents !
• A representative of ‘Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’ tried to contact office of ‘Varada Vinayak Ganapati Devasthan’ and know their side but the concerned persons refused to say anything in the matter

Panvel – Local residents have accused Kedar Joshi, a Trustee of ‘Varada Vinayak’ Ganapati Temple at Mahad of misappropriating funds and they are on hunger strike since Sankashti Chaturthi, i.e. 3rd August, in protest. They have also accused Raigad’s Charity Commissioner K. D. Patil and demanded inquiry into this matter.

1.Prasad Patil, a local resident, along with others, have claimed that every year, there is misappropriation of billions of rupees in this temple and trustee Kedar Joshi has accumulated crores of rupees, from donations given by devotees. He has lot of moveable and immoveable properties in his name. He has kept money even in other countries. The income of this temple is in billions but it is shown as very less on paper. The Enforcement and Income Tax Departments of Government should conduct inquiry into Board of Trustees of this temple and file criminal cases against all of them.

2. The local residents have called for some information from K. D. Patil, the Charity Commissioner of Raigad under ‘RTI’ but reply has not been received yet nor has Patil given any explanation, in writing, to even an appeal made in this connection. It is therefore, felt that the trustees and Charity Commissioner are ‘hand in gloves’ in this scam and they should be dismissed.

3. Donations are collected in the name of Shri Ganapati Sanstha, Mahad Trust; but when the residents asked Joshi, a trustee about accounts, he didn’t show anything.

4. Kedar Joshi’s father Nandkumar Joshi was a Trustee prior to him and his daughter Mohini Vaidya, is the Chairperson of this Trust.

Queries raised by local residents in this context….

1. Why are CCTV cameras not on when counting of money is done from donation boxes?

2. Why renovation of donation Cell is not being undertaken despite repeated requests ?

3. Why Trustees do not make arrangements for parking of devotees’ vehicles when there is lot of crowd?

4. Why the arrangements made by the Trust for staying for devotees are so inadequate ?

5. Why isn’t there a provision for an ambulance and hospital in case Ganesha-devotees get hurt ?

6. Devotees stand in a queue even when it is raining; get wet especially on the days of Chaturthi. Why necessary facilities have not been provided by the Board of Trustees?

7. Ganesha devotees offer money for doing ‘abhishek’ in temple; but is it really performed?

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat