Inquiry into malpractices in Siddhivinayak Temple trust to be completed in 30 days: Devendra

The inquiry into alleged malpractices in Sree Siddhivinayak Temple Trust will be completed within one month, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (Photo: File/India Today)

By India Today Web Desk: Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced a probe into alleged irregularities in the running of the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust (SSGT). Fadnavis said that a report would be submitted in one month.

Fadnavis made the announcement in the legislative assembly while replying to a calling attention motion by Shinde faction MLA from Mahim, Sada Sarvankar. The enquiry is said to be significant since the trust is headed by Aadesh Bandekar, an actor, and leader of Shiv Sena (UBT). Bandekar was given the status of minister of state by the Fadnavis regime in 2018.

Sarvankar had alleged the temple trust had bought around 15,000-16,000 litres of ghee from a UP-based company in March 2020 and during the Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown, the temple was shut and ghee was sold by its trustees. Sarvankar also alleged that soon after the temple opened in 2021, the temple trust doled out a contract to a software company linked to its trustees for setting up their QR code-based temple visit system.

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“This work usually costs around Rs 40-50 lakhs but a contract worth Rs 3.5 crore was given for developing and operating the QR code. This is nothing but corruption and mismanagement. There are also many irregularities in the reconstruction and repair work of the temple. So a detailed investigation is required,”Sarvankar said.

Maharashtra assembly’s winter Session has been adjourned sine die and the next session will be held from February 27, 2023 in Mumbai.

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