Rs 18 crore stolen yearly: Raj Thackeray alleges Siddhivinayak donations theft
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday alleged that Rs 18 crore in donations was being siphoned off every year at Mumbai's famed Siddhivinayak
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday alleged that Rs 18 crore in donations was being siphoned off every year at Mumbai's famed Siddhivinayak temple. He also claimed that Rs 1,400 crore had been stolen at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Speaking at a programme organised by his party's student wing, Thackeray said, "Even temples are not safe these days," and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on the issue.
He also said, "Frustrated youths visit temples, but even temples are not safe from corruption." Read Full Story Referring to the Siddhivinayak temple, Thackeray said some employees who stole money from the donation box were caught because of the alertness of the trustees. Reading out a letter written by eight trustees to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, he said the temple's weekly donation income was less than Rs 50 lakh before the theft was detected, and later rose to Rs 1.5 crore.
"Every year, Rs 18 crore was being stolen," Thackeray alleged. Sada Sarvankar, chairman of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and a leader of the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, said nine employees had been arrested in the case. "We have filed cases wherever required," he told reporters. Sarvankar said the rise in donations was due to steps taken by the trust, and added that the temple's income had increased from Rs 114 crore two years ago to Rs 182 crore.
In Ayodhya, police have arrested multiple accused in the theft of donations at the Ram Mandir, and the investigation is underway. The remarks in Mumbai brought the focus on Thackeray's allegations over temple donations, the action taken in the Siddhivinayak case, and his demand for a response from the prime minister. Ends
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