HJS to fight legal battle against misappropriated land of Tuljapur Devasthan Samiti and other corruption issues – advocate Shri. Veerendra Ichalkaranjikar, HVP
Mumbai : It was exposed in the inquiry conducted by the then District Collector Dr. Pravin Gedam that from over 15 villages, 3568 acres of land was owned by Tuljapur Devasthan Samiti (TDS), a pilgrimage place in Maharashtra; out of which 265 acres land in Amrutwadi has been misappropriated in illegal manner in the name of 77 persons. The then Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had ordered inquiry into the matter. Inquiry was conducted into Joint Secretary Giradkar of Law and Justice Department, Sambhajinagar Region along with 5 persons and a report based on the inquiry was sent to Law and Justice Department at Mantralaya, Mumbai. The report was then forwarded by this Department to Revenue Department; but instead of taking action, it was muffled. A report instead of taking action, gets silenced is a very serious matter and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) will give legal fight on this issue, informed advocate Shri. Veerendra Ichalkaranjikar, national President of ‘Hindu Vidhidnya Parishada (HVP)’ during a press conference held here.
HJS has made an appeal that Shri. Sunil Ghanavat, State Coordinator of HJS can be contacted on 9404956534 if anyone wants to give any information on the misappropriation in TDS matter. Adv. Ichalkaranjikar said, “Inquiry has been conducted by Crime Investigation Department (CID) from the year 2010 but there is no outcome in last 5 years; therefore, HJS has filed PIL through HVP with High Court’s Bench at Sambhajinagar. Advocates Shri. Suresh Kulkarni and advocate Shri. Umesh Bhadgaonkar, members of HVP have been presenting the case in Court.”
Advocate Ichalkaranjikar further said …
- We are fighting case on behalf of journalists in Azad Maidan riot issue. We fought legal battle and got back 350 acres of land from Mandir Samiti of Pandharpur. We will not allow any malpractices in Hindus’ temples. We will fight for passing of Acts under which the corrupt would get punished.
- Charity Commissioner doesn’t take any action. The Government is also indifferent. There is no progress in this corruption case of 2010. Why are all District Collectors so unconcerned? Will the Government punish such offending district collectors ?
- Replies given by the government to questions under RTI exhibit shamelessness of the Government. We have filed a petition against this.
- We will have to say that temples were never released from the clutches of Nizam since temple lands were grabbed from him by others. Police conduct inquiries when we celebrate our festivals and impose restrictions; but they don’t investigate corrupt practices going on behind closed doors of temples. In fact, the scams are being suppressed.
Views expressed by other speakers during press conference
If temples are attacked, we will create awareness amongst people and oppose thro’ every level ! – Narendra Surve, HJS
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has exposed scams related to many temples and worked for protection of Dharma. In 2013, land-scam of Pandharpur Mandir; in 2014, malpractices taking place in thousands of temples through Pashchim Maharashtra Devasthan Samiti have been exposed by HJS. Today, we are bringing forth malpractices by TDS. Wherever there are corrupt practices affecting temples, awareness will be created amongst people and we shall oppose such corruption at all levels.
Hindus’ temples should be handed over to devotees for managing ! – Sou. Nayana Bhagat, Sanatan Sanstha
Temples are seats of worship of Hindus. Many devotees go to temple and make offerings as per their family traditions. Scam in TDS is an insult of devotees. Tuljapur temple is one among 3-1/2 ‘shakti-Peethas’. It is a powerful temple and other people should not go through distress due to sins committed by few persons in this temple; therefore, as a duty towards Dharma, we are taking such action. Everyone should join and raise his voice against the scam. Money donated by devotees should be used for giving facilities to devotees. Sanatan Sanstha, HJS and HVP are fighting together in this mission of protection of Dharma.
Questions asked by reporters to Adv. Ichalkaranjikar and his answers
Reporter ( R) : Do you believe in Government ?
Adv. Ichalkaranjikar (A) : Let there be any Government; but our temples should not be harmed and corruption should be stopped. We hope that CM Shri. Devendra Fadanvis would certainly take decision in this regard.
R: Will any party help you ?
A: We are not concerned with that but we want that corruption in temple management should be stopped.
R: Give us names of those involved in corruption.
A: Inquiry should be conducted into elected representatives; district collectors, auditors and priests.
R: Do priests get commission?
A: Priest is a small fry; but the big fish takes liberty to say or do anything; so why shouldn’t he be caught ?
Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
