Take control of Mukteshar temple, priest urges U’khand govt

A priest of a prominent temple in Mukteshwar has asked the government to take the temple and its associated Ashram under its control.

Presiding head Sanshudhanand Maharaj alleged that some anti-social elements have taken over control of the temple and ashram from him and have allegedly started misusing crores of donation for their vested interest and personal use.

Swami Mukteshwar Maharaj took over as the head of the temple in 1946 and developed the area and also constructed an ashram and a school over a period of time.

He was later succeeded by Swami Sanshudhanand Maharaj who is the presiding head till date. In the pre-Independence days, the entire area was under Royal Society of the Bengal King or the Asiatic Royal Society of London but after independence, it was transferred to Indian Veterinary Research Institute which has a sizeable campus and is an ace research institution.

During the last decade, some local anti-social elements are said to have taken over the temple and ashram and the school forcibly from Swami Sanshudhanand Maharaj.

There have been efforts for removing Swami Sanshudhanand Maharaj from the temple premises. Ganesh Bora, who is the secretary of the temple, said there was no controversy and over the temple and the allegations were exaggerated. “The local people will take to the streets if there is any move for handing over the temple management to the government,” he said.

SDM Nainital Vandana said,“We will take necessary action if the matter is brought to us by any competent person.