Shri Tulajabhavani Temple corruption case : Court expressed displeasure against Police

Why the Maharashtra Govt., flaunting ideal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj delaying the arrests of looters of Shri Tulajabhavani Temple

Dy. DGP will submit assurance letter before the High Court to complete the investigation in entire case within 3 months

‘During the period of 19 years from 1991 to 2009, crores of rupees belonging to Trust were misappropriated by making the wrong and false entries while auctioning the donation box of Shri Tuljabhavani Temple Trust. The scam involved 120 Kgs of gold, 240 Kgs of silver and 265 acres of Temple land. Still, why the Maharashtra Government, flaunting the ‘Shivashahi’ Government based on the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is delaying the arrests of looters of Shri Tulajabhavani Temple ?’ Mr. Sunil Ghanavat, State Organiser of Hindus Janajagruti Samiti raised the question. The petition was heard before the Aurangabad Bench of Mumbai High Court on 30 June in Shri Tulajabhavani Temple corruption case. On this occasion Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice R.M. Borde made several enquiries with the Deputy Director General of Police in harsh words. Similarly, the Bench expressed its displeasure over the the slow speed of investigation. The Dy. DGP will submit the assurance letter till 14th July before the High Court to complete the investigation in the entire casewithin 3 months.

Speaking on the subject, Mr. Ghanavat said, “In this case, corruption took place in collusion with the 21 District Collectors and other Trustees. In this regard, 15 MLAs raised the voice in the State Assembly in 2015, and the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also replied, “The investigation in the case has been handed over to the Crime Investigation Department (CID); the investigation is in progress and will be completed shortly”. However, the investigation has been delayed as the concerned officers have been elevated to higher posts and the Trustees have become political leaders. Therefore, considering the seriousness of the matter, we have filed the petition before the High Court. The corruption in the temples, which have been taken over so far by the Government has crossed the limit. Unfortunately, despite the pro-Hindu Governments being in the power both in the State and Centre, the Hindu temples are still facing the vicious circle. However, the Government should realise that both those committing sin of misappropriating the temple funds and those protecting such corrupt are partners in sin. We have faith that Shri Tuljabhavani will punish these forces committing sin. Mr. Ghanavat expressed that to make the temples in the State corruption-free, their taking over by the Government should be withdrawn. During the hearing Adv. Suresh Kulkarni, Adv. Pankaj Gaikwad and Adv. Umesh Bhadgaonkar of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad represented Hindu Janajagruti Samiti.