Minister grabs temple funds, alleges trust
JAIPUR: The Chamunda temple trust in Rajasthan’s Pali district has lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta against priest and state minister Otaram Devasi for allegedly grabbing a major chunk of the temple income, officials said on Saturday.
Lokayukta SS Kothari has asked the Udaipur commissioner and Pali superintendent of police to file a full report on the matter by July 1.
Recently, the trust had moved a local court to get an FIR lodged against the minister in the matter. Superintendent of police Kewal Ram said that investigation would be started after the court order reached the police.
The Chamunda temple is spread over 75 bighas of land, worth `100 crore in Pali. Devasi has been a priest since 1985. The temple’s monthly offerings amount to `1 lakh in addition to the annual income of `25 from cultivation.
The trust has alleged that Devasthan department minister Otaram Devasi has been drawing `4,000 salary without performing his duties besides taking home `25 lakh worth of annual income from temple proceeds.
However, the minister refuted the allegations and said that as a priest he was entitled to spending the temple proceeds on devotees’ food, lodging and other upkeep. But, he denied drawing the salary as a priest.
He said, “It is a tradition at the temple that priests perform their duties till death and I am carrying forward that legacy. All the allegations are politically motivated.”
On the other hand, the trust members, on condition of anonymity, alleged that the minister was trying to break the trust to have his say in every matter. However, the minister said they were fighting among themselves and added that the local administration had appointed a sub-divisional magistrate and a tehsildar as a receiver. “I have nothing to do with it,” said Devasi.
Meanwhile, some members of the Devasi Samaj expressed solidarity with the minister and said it would protest against such allegations.