Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a detailed inquiry into alleged donation irregularities at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak temple, directing officials to examine the temple’s records for the last five years.
The development came after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray alleged on August 2 that donations worth Rs 18 crore were being embezzled from the temple every year. Thackeray claimed that the temple’s weekly donations were below Rs 50 lakh before the alleged theft came to light, but increased to about Rs 1.5 crore after those allegedly involved were caught.
Nine temple employees were arrested in connection with the alleged theft in March, Sada Sarvankar, chairperson of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and a leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, said.
According to Siddhivinayak Temple Trust chairman and former Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar, the temple recorded Rs 182 crore in donations this year, up from Rs 114 crore two years ago. The trust has said it flagged donation irregularities and sought an audit in May, months before Raj Thackeray’s Rs 18-crore theft claim.
The alleged theft first came to light on March 20 after temple authorities noticed cash missing from a donation box. Initially, the Dadar police registered an FIR for the theft of Rs 10,000. Investigators said CCTV footage showed individuals repeatedly removing cash from a small donation box over a period of around 10 days.
Maharashtra CM orders probe into alleged donation thefts at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak temple; directs officials to examine five-year records after Rs 18 crore embezzlement allegations.
