Investigations to be completed within 2 months into scam by PMDS : Ranjit Patil

Shiv Sena MLAs Prakash Abitkar, Chandradeep Narake etc take active part in discussions on this issue

Mumbai : Within 15 days, draft of the Bill will be prepared for of PMDS for protection of lands and its management in future which are under purview of PMDS; on similar lines as that of Shirdi shrine, Siddhivinayak Temple and Pandharpur Devasthan and it will be sent to members. Also investigations into scam by PMDS will be completed under State CID within 2 months and guilty will be punished. The above information was given by Home (State) Minister Ranajit Patil on 23rd March during State Legislative Assembly session. Shiv Sena MLAs Prakash Abitkar and Sunil Shinde and other MLAs presented this topic and Shiv Sena and other MLAs participated in the discussions raising queries on issue of scam by PMDS.

Inquiry should be completed within certain time limit into PMDS scam ! – MLA Prakash Abitkar 

Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Abitkar strongly demanded that a separate Act should be passed for PMDS on the lines of Shirdi Sansthan, Siddhivinayak Mandir and Pandharpur Devasthan. He said that in March 2015, Chief Minister had promised to conduct inquiry into PMDS through State CID; but even after 2 years since then, this inquiry has not been completed; therefore, the Government should decide time-limit for conducting inquiry and guilty as found in the inquiry report should be stringently punished.

Experience with CID is not very good; therefore, inquiry should be conducted by independent agency ! – MLA Chandradeep Narake 

Shiv Sena MLA Chandradeep Narake said that lands under possession of PMDS should be managed through a separate Act. The extent of misappropriation of funds by PMDS as observed in its audit is quite huge; still inquiry should be completed within 2 months. Lands have been sold at a very low cost and it should be investigated. Experience with CID is not very good because it doesn’t complete its work within time and there is delay in submission of report; therefore, separate machinery should be set up for inquiry. During 2007 to 2017, few ‘Shaktipeethas’ have sold land belonging to Devasthan Committee which should also be investigated.

1. BJP MLA Shri. Pacharane said, “The Government did nothing despite High Court’s orders to conduct inquiry into misappropriation of funds by Ashtavinayak Devasthan at Ranjangaon. The Government should call a meeting of all elected representatives raising the issues related to Devasthan Committee.”

2. MLA Shri. Raj Purohit said, “An important point has been raised in the session. There is a temple of Mumbadevi in Mumbai. A visitor in Mumbai has to face traffic problems to visit this temple. There is no light and water provision on stretch of 8 kms on that road and condition of road is also very bad.”

3. BJP MLA Shri. Ashish Shelar said, “Devasthan cannot sell its land directly. Devasthan also have lot of ornaments. All these issues should be investigated.”

4. BJP MLA Shri. Mangalkumar Lodha said that the purpose of Devasthan Committee should be mentioned while registration; but it does not happen due to corrupt working practices of Charity Commissioner. The office of Charity Commissioner has  become a haunt of corruption.

Home (State) Minister Shri. Ranajit Patil said that 

1. In the year 1969, PMDS was set up and it started managing 3067 temples. From 1969 till today, 9 Presidents and 8 treasurers along with different members have managed this Committee under instructions of the Government. The extent of work is quite huge therefore, inquiry is taking time.

2. Out of the total land under PMDS, 10492 hectares of land has been accounted for and total remaining area is yet to be determined. Auditing has been completed from 1969 to 2007 and Mssrs. Kochar & Associates, Mumbai have been appointed by the Government for auditing of accounts for the years 2007 to 2012. Its chartered accountants are auditing the accounts.

3. Meetings will be held at various places to improve its management. There are two types of land under purview of PMDS in which there is land given as ‘inam’ to those who are serving for many years, for generations. Income earned from this land is not the income of Devasthan Samiti.

4. The other type is parts of land are given for use on contract by auctioning and income earned from such lands is given to Devasthan Samiti. Lands given on contract by putting up on auction, are continued on payment of certain contract amounts by regularly issuing notices in case such contracts are given earlier. Sometimes there is delay in recovering contract amounts due to non-availability of 7/12 records or in keeping records of crops and inadequate manpower with Devasthan committees.

5. PMDS has sold 32, 500 hectares of land so far since 1981 to milk committees, service committees, housing societies, health services, sugar factories, grampanchayats, educational institutes, water-supplying companies, telecommunication corporations, farmers’ societies etc. Prior permissions have been obtained from Charity Commissioner under clause 36 of ‘Mumbai Public Trusts Management Act, 1950’.

6. A proposal is under consideration for passing an independent law for better management of PMDS and for carrying out activities under individual Devasthan Committees such as following customs and traditions as has been done in cases of shrines at Shirdi and Pandharpur.

7. Inquiry will be conducted into trustees of Ashtavinayak Mandir at Ranjangaon and its report will be presented in the House. Also, issues related to providing facilities and finding solution to bad conditions in Mumbapuri Mandir area will be taken up if a representation is given on the same. Attention will be given to take care of Devasthan Committee’s properties in its interest.

HJS thanks MLAs Prakash Abitkar, Chandradeep Narake and others who raised the topic of PMDS’ scam ! 

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has thanked Shiv Sena MLAs  Shri. Prakash Abitkar and Shri. Chandradeep Narake; BJP MLAs Shri. Mangalkumar Lodha, Shri. Baburao Pacharane, Shri. Raj Purohit, Shri. Ashish Shelar etc for raising the issue of PMDS’ scam in Legislative Assembly session. HJS had made a request for bringing forth corruption and scam of PMDS and for punishing the guilty and do justice to devotees.

Meeting will be held of elected representatives for solving problems related to Devasthan Committee ! – Ranajit Patil, Home (State) Minister 

Issue of completion of inquiry into PMDS within two months has been discussed with the Chief Minister few days back. As per the demand made by MLAs during Assembly session, meeting will be held on behalf of the Government to solve various problems in connection with activities of PMDS, was the promise given by Shri. Ranajit Patil, State (Home) Minister.