Raj Thackeray Accuses Siddhivinayak Temple of Annual Donation Embezzlement of ₹18 Crore

In a startling revelation, Raj Thackeray, the leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has alleged that approximately ₹18 crore is misappropriated each year from Mumbai’s iconic Siddhivinayak temple. His claims come in the wake of ongoing controversies regarding financial misconduct at religious sites, particularly the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

During a press conference held on Sunday, Thackeray referenced a letter purportedly from eight trustees of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust, which was addressed to Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He accused certain temple employees of siphoning donations from collection boxes, leading to significant revenue losses for the temple.

Thackeray further stated that prior to the discovery of this alleged theft, the weekly donations collected at the Siddhivinayak temple were around ₹50 lakh. However, after the implicated individuals were apprehended, the weekly donations reportedly surged to approximately ₹1.5 crore. This increase raises questions about the transparency and management of the temple’s finances.

In response to these allegations, Sada Sarvankar, the chairperson of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and a member of the Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena, confirmed that nine employees had been arrested in relation to the theft claims. Sarvankar emphasized that legal action has been initiated where necessary, asserting that the temple’s administration is committed to ensuring accountability.

This incident occurs amid heightened scrutiny regarding financial practices at religious institutions, with Thackeray also alleging that ₹1,400 crore has been improperly taken from the Ram temple’s funds in Ayodhya. As the political landscape intensifies, these allegations have sparked a broader debate over the governance of donations at religious sites, with various factions of the Sangh Parivar embroiled in controversies surrounding the Ram temple.

Source: scroll.in