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Investigate corruption in Pandharpur Temple Committee through ‘SIT’ : Demand of Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh

Valuation of Shri Vitthal’s ancient jewellery and its records were revealed to be non-existent

Mismanagement in Prasad laddus, Goshala, public toilets, advance payment etc.

(From left, Mr Rajan Bunge, Mr Kishore Gangane, Mr Sunil Ghanwat, Ha.Bha.Pa. Ramakrishna Veer Maharaj, Mr Ganesh Lanke)

Pandharpur, Maharashtra – A recent revelation has brought to light an incident involving the disappearance of ancient and valuable gold and silver ornaments from the Shri Tulja Bhavani Mandir Sansthan, which is under the control of the Maharashtra Government. A few years ago, there was a big scam involving land and jewels in the Shri Mahalakshmi Temple of Kolhapur. Similarly, a serious case of more than 300 ancient and precious jewels offered to Shri Vitthal-Rukhmini by Kings, Maharajas, Peshwas, Institutions etc. in the temple of Vithuraya of Pandharpur (which is now a place of worship for crores of devotees) not recorded and evaluated in the balance sheet has come to light. In a press conference held in Pandharpur, Mr Sunil Ghanwat, State Coordinator of Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, called for the immediate intervention of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the State’s Criminal Investigation Department to probe whether there is a conspiracy to misappropriate the jewels of Vithuraya. Additionally, he urged swift registration of cases against the responsible officers, employees, and members of the temple committee. Notable attendees at the press conference included Ha.Bha.Pa. Ramakrishna Veer Maharaj (National Spokesperson of ‘Warkari Sampraday Paik Sangh’), Mr Kishore Gangane (Former President, Shri Tuljabhavani Pujari Mandal), Mr Ganesh Lanke (President, Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple Protection Action Committee), Mr Rajan Bunge (Hindu Janajagruti Samiti), and others.

The use of substandard cooking oil for Prasad intended for Vitthal devotees, the dilapidated state of the Goshala, the wasteful expenditure of lakhs of rupees without constructing toilets, and the failure to evaluate gold articles in the temple are serious concerns. The ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’ has called for the immediate dissolution of the current temple committee and the dismissal of officials found guilty of these actions.

The ‘Annual Audit Report of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Mandir for the year 2021-22’ was submitted to the Government during the recently concluded Winter Session of the Legislature. In this report, auditors have explicitly highlighted the mismanagement issues within the temple committee. Despite 38 years having passed since the temple came under Government control in 1985, the ancient and valuable gold and silver items, along with the precious ornaments of the Deities, have not been documented in the balance sheet or subjected to evaluation. This raises concerns about the potential for manipulation or theft of ornaments in the temple over this extended period. Additionally, questions arise about why the ornaments offered at the feet of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini are not sealed, further fueling suspicions of possible usurpation in recent years. Who will give assurance about this, asserted Mr Sunil Ghanwat.

Rs 22 lakh of Shri Vitthal Temple wasted in rent without building Sulabh public toilets

On the 21st March 2017, the Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple Committee set the rent at Rs 1,54,46041 for the construction of accessible public toilets on the railway site. This agreement spanned 35 years, with an annual rent payment of Rs 4,41,315 to the railway administration by the temple committee. Astonishingly, despite these arrangements, no accessible public toilet has materialized in the last 5 years. This lack of foresight in management has resulted in the wastage of Rs 22,06,575 from the temple funds. Mr. Ghanwat insisted that those responsible for this mistake and the unwarranted expenditure should reimburse the temple committee, along with interest.

Unforgivable neglect of ailing cows in the Goshala

Records of cows in temple Samiti’s goshala are not maintained, and the Goshala itself is marred by the presence of empty cans of garbage, scrap, and oil. When the auditor visited the Goshala, 2 cows and 3 calves were identified with lumpy disease; but they were not adequately cared for. Sales of milk from cows in Goshalas are not documented. Cows lack insurance coverage. Auditors discovered 30 trolleys of cow dung in the Goshala area with an estimated value of up to Rs 1,35,000. It has not been sold on time either. Mr Ghanwat raised a question, “If this is the way Government employees-officials ignore to take care of the cows then with what sort of devotion will they work for the temple and the devotees”.

All gold and silver articles, parts of the temples and ornaments of all the temples taken over by the Government of Maharashtra should undergo a swift and time-bound assessment, with the findings promptly recorded in the balance sheet. Making of laddus, sale of manure in Goshala, etc. should be investigated and legal action should be taken against the culprits rather than merely instructing the cancellation of contracts. All this has happened due to the negligence of the Government-run Temple Committee. Mr Ghanwat finally demanded that the temple committee members who dishonestly handled the funds provided to the temple should be investigated a case should be registered against them, and honest and deserving Vitthal devotees should be appointed to the Trust.

File cases against those who adulterate Prasad Laddus – Ha.Bha.Pa. Ramakrishna Veer Maharaj

The temple committee has given the contract to the self-help groups to make the laddus which are distributed to devotees as Prasad. The ingredients description on the packaging states that ‘dry fruits, as well as nutritive ingredients, groundnut oil are being used’ in the laddu; however not actually using it is a scam. Also, low-quality cottonseed oil is substituted for groundnut oil. It is a sin to give poor quality Prasad to the devotees who come to Vitthal’s Holy feet with faith. In this case, the temple committee has taken a deliberate action to withdraw the contract of the self-help groups and confiscate their deposits. The temple committee’s complicity in overlooking this wrongdoing renders them equally culpable. Mr Ramakrishna Veer Maharaj demanded that action should be taken against the temple committee as well.

No recovery of advance payment even after 12 years – Mr Kishore Gangane

The advance payments disbursed by the temple committee to employees are not promptly recovered. In 2010, the temple granted an advance amount of Rs 1,80,540 to seven individuals, yet even after 12 years, the sum remains unrecovered. Additionally, there are numerous instances where advances provided to individuals have not been recouped promptly. This thing is also serious, Mr Kishore Gangane said.

 

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