Misappropriation by officials and staff in the Shani Shingnapur Temple online Puja App case

Embezzlement of ₹77.46 L

Shri Shanishchara Temple, a place of worship for millions of Hindus

Ahilyanagar (Maharashtra) – After completing the investigation into the embezzlement in the online darshan and puja app of Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan at Shani Shingnapur, the Cyber Police have filed a chargesheet in the Nevasa court. It has been established that the misappropriation occurred through an app that had official authorisation from the temple trust. The investigation revealed that approximately ₹77,46,341 was embezzled, and a chargesheet has been filed against nine accused suspects.

1. After the Police began investigating the app embezzlement case, the then officials and employees of the temple attempted to newly recreate the permission letters given to the app operators and tried to justify the amounts credited to the employees’ bank accounts.

2. It was found that employee Sanjay Pawar allegedly threatened a person managing the app and forced him to submit fake permission letters and financial statements to the Police. It was also revealed that he had granted permission for conducting pujas using his own signature.

Shri Shani Shankar Temple Online Darshan and Worship App

3. The investigation clearly showed that temple officials and employees themselves had conspired in the embezzlement scheme, exposing a serious case of taking undue advantage of devotees’ faith.

4. Detailed information of approximately 100 bank accounts belonging to trustees, officials, employees, priests, and app owners was examined, following which the embezzlement came to light. A claim was also made that the total embezzlement could be close to ₹500 crore.

5. The investigation gained momentum after the issue was raised in the legislature and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an enquiry.

6. During the investigation, it was found that no online puja bookings had been made through apps that did not have official permission from the temple. However, the temple had officially authorised five apps — DevDham, Sri Mandir, Utsav, Vama, and Shemaroo — for online puja bookings and live darshan.

Editorial Perspectives

• This is the result of government control over temples !

• The embezzlement of money devoted with faith by crores of Hindu devotees at the revered Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan is an extremely shocking and serious matter !