Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has alleged that donations worth ₹18 crore were being siphoned off every year at Mumbai’s famous Siddhivinayak Temple.
Speaking at a programme organised by his party’s student wing, Thackeray said some employees who stole money from the donation box at the temple were caught due to the alertness of the trustees. He claimed that the temple’s weekly earnings from donations were less than ₹50 lakh before this theft was caught, and afterwards the collection rose to ₹1.5 crore.
“Every year, ₹18 crore was being stolen,” Thackeray alleged. He also claimed that ₹1,400 crore had been stolen at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on this issue.
Sada Sarvankar, chairman of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust, said that nine employees were arrested in this connection. “We have filed cases wherever required,” he told reporters. Sarvankar refuted the allegations of an ₹18-crore scam, saying Raj Thackeray had misinterpreted the letter. He said the temple’s income has increased from ₹114 crore two years ago to ₹182 crore due to reforms and improvements in management.
The allegations come amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, where police have arrested multiple accused and the probe is underway. The Ram Temple Trust has tightened surveillance over the collection and counting of donations by introducing enhanced transparency measures.
₹18 crore donations allegedly stolen annually from Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple; Raj Thackeray demands PM speak on issue.
When faith meets finance, even temples must guard their trust.
