BENGALURU: The trustees of Gali Anjaneya Temple have approached the Karnataka High Court, challenging the government’s decision to take over the temple’s administration. The case is being heard by a single-judge bench of Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav.
The temple trust’s lawyer, P Prasanna Kumar, argued that the government’s decision was made in haste and without proper investigation of the temple’s affairs. He claimed that the trust had provided all necessary documents and that the government’s decision was based on incomplete information.
The government’s lawyer argued that the trust had failed to provide necessary information about the temple’s finances and management and that the temple’s administration had been marred by irregularities and corruption. The lawyer also claimed that the trust’s officials had been involved in financial mismanagement and that the government’s decision to take over the temple was necessary to protect the temple’s interests.
It is said that money was stolen during counting from the donation box. Two people involved in this have been dismissed. An FIR has also been registered and a report has been submitted regarding this. It is also said that there is no coordination between the office bearers of the trust.
Following the allegations, the assistant commissioner informed the Muzrai Department about the goings-on in a report. The order to take over the temple was issued based on the inquiry report. It said that money theft has come to light on social media and in the media and it has been a year since the case was registered. However, no chargesheet that has been filed against those accused of theft and the issue is not likely to be resolved soon, said the report.
The government lawyer said, “The trust has been asked for information many times, but no information has been provided. Whatever income has come in the last 19 years, they have shown it as expenditure. The trust has looted the donations for 19 years and not a single document has been provided about the expenditure. All the devotees of the temple have expressed happiness that the Muzrai department has taken it over”.
The court put off further hearing to Wednesday after hearing both sides. The case highlights the ongoing controversy over the government’s decision to take over the management of certain temples in the state.
