Valuation of temple jewellery not done due to complicated process – Balaji Pudalwad, Manager, Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple Committee, Pandharpur

• Attempts to cover up negligence of the temple committee

• Mismanagement of Pandharpur’s Shri Vitthal-Rukmini temple by the temple committee

(Credits:TV9 Telugu)

Pandharpur – Mr Balaji Pudalwad, Manager of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple Committee, stated while trying to cover up for the mismanagement, that ‘the valuation of temple jewellery and silver articles was not done since the process was complicated’. The auditors have been advising the committee for many years to evaluate and keep a record of ancient valuable jewellery of the Deity in the balance sheet. The Charity Commissioner had also instructed the committee to follow the auditor’s advice, but the committee never spoke about this difficulty earlier. Now, as the issue has become controversial, Mr Balaji Pudalwad seems to be giving excuses. A reporter of ‘Daily Sanatan Prabhat’ interviewed Mr Balaji Pudalwad on 30th December 2023 in connection with the alleged mismanagement of the temple by its management committee. Mr Pudalwad gave the above explanation during the interview.

Mr Pudalwad stated that the valuation of the jewellery can differ as per the opinion of different experienced goldsmiths who looked after this work; however, no letter explaining the complications in the process was ever sent by the temple committee to the Government or to the Charity Commissioner.

Mr Balaji Pudalwad also stated that a letter was sent to the Government in 2021-22 for the appointment of an officer to carry out valuation, but nobody has been appointed till now. He was very sure that there would not be any difference in the original weight of the temple’s jewellery.

All the compliance reports agree to carry out valuation of the jewellery

(Compliance report explains the actions taken on the Charity Commissioner’s instructions on the audit report)

In the last several audit reports, the auditors have instructed the committee to evaluate the temple jewellery and record in the balance sheet. The committee has submitted compliance reports and assured to take necessary action (i.e. valuation) as per the advice of the auditors. All these reports are available on the temple website. None of the reports mentions any difficulty in carrying out the valuation. This reveals temple committee’s mismanagement and suspicious conduct.