MUMBAI: Allegations of missing donations at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple have snowballed into a political controversy after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray claimed that nearly Rs 18 crore was being siphoned off annually from the temple’s donation boxes. The temple trust has denied any cover-up, saying it had itself uncovered irregularities, initiated police action and sought a government probe.
Here’s what the controversy is about:
What did Raj Thackeray allege?Addressing an MNS event on Saturday, Raj Thackeray claimed the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust had written to deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde alleging that around Rs 18 crore was being stolen every year from the temple’s donation collections. Referring to the purported letter, he questioned how devotees could trust institutions if thefts were taking place even inside temples.His remarks come amid the political storm over alleged donation irregularities linked to the Ayodhya Ram Temple.What has the temple trust said?Responding to the allegations, trustees said they were the ones who detected the suspected theft and informed the Maharashtra government, rejecting suggestions of any attempt to suppress the issue.Trust chairman Sada Sarvankar said the trust had written to the law and judiciary department in March after identifying irregularities and requested a detailed probe. According to him, the department has sought a report from the temple and issued notices to two senior officials responsible for day-to-day administration.The trustees also refused calls to resign, saying they should not be blamed for exposing the alleged wrongdoing.Why is the temple asking for an audit?The trust has called for an audit of donation collections over the past two years, claiming temple income has nearly doubled after action was taken against those allegedly involved.According to the trustees, monthly donations have risen from around Rs 40-45 lakh to Rs 80-90 lakh after the suspected leakages were plugged. They argue that an audit would establish whether earlier collections had been underreported.What is the VIP darshan angle?Trustees alleged that some temple employees accepted money from devotees in exchange for facilitating VIP darshan. Several employees have been suspended over the allegations.They said the temple, which attracts devotees and celebrities from across the country and abroad, has strict procedures for handling donations. Cash from donation boxes is counted every Wednesday and deposited in the bank the same day.Who has been arrested?The trust said police arrested eight employees in connection with the alleged irregularities. The accused were questioned, remanded to police custody for three days and later granted bail.One of those arrested was identified as Rajendra Pendurkar, who had been working at the temple since 2009 and was accused of stealing cash from the donation boxes. Trustees also claimed some of the accused were appointed during the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led government, a charge that has added a political dimension to the controversy.What happens next?The Maharashtra law and judiciary department is examining the trust’s report, while the temple administration has maintained that it supports a full investigation and financial audit. With Raj Thackeray escalating the issue and political parties trading allegations, the donation row is likely to remain in focus in the coming days.
