The alleged mega scam of Rs 22 crore 74 lakh that came to light in Butati Dham, a big center of faith in Nagaur, Rajasthan, has heated up the politics of the state. After the 146-day investigation report of the 13-member investigation committee formed on the orders of the District Collector became public, Cabinet Minister Zoraram Kumawat and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie have come face to face.
The minister has announced strict action against the culprits, while the opposition has raised questions on the government’s monitoring system and demanded a fair investigation. At the same time, the investigation report of the district administration has revealed serious financial irregularities related to the temple management. According to the report, proven and estimated embezzlement of about Rs 22 crore 74 lakh has come to light. No record has been found of the gold and silver jewelery offered by the devotees.
Fake bills worth Rs 49 lakh 49 thousand were passed in the name of construction of a dining hall, kitchen expenses were shown to have increased by 350 percent in a year. Apart from this, alleged fake payments of more than Rs 49 lakh were made in the name of installation of CCTV, cow shed maintenance and security without tender. Besides, the difference of lakhs of rupees between donation box and bank accounts has also been revealed in the report.
Action should be taken against the culprits without any discrimination
Regarding this entire matter, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie said that the report of embezzlement of crores of rupees in such a big faith center is very serious. Demanding a fair and transparent investigation into the entire matter, he asked the BJP government that if the game of donation box, gold and silver offerings and fake bills was going on for so long, then what was the Devasthan Department and the administrative machinery doing. Julie said that the truth should come out and action should be taken against the culprits without any discrimination.
Corruption cannot be tolerated at any cost
At the same time, Cabinet Minister Zoraram Kumawat clearly said that corruption in the money of devotees’ faith will not be tolerated at any cost. He said that the recommendations of the inquiry committee are being studied. On the basis of that, action and legal process will be initiated against the Temple Development Committee. The minister also said that the temple management system will be made completely transparent to prevent misuse of offerings made by paralyzed patients and devotees coming from India and abroad.
Temple Development Committee denied the allegations
However, Temple Development Committee Chairman Devendra Singh Rathi has rejected the allegations made in the investigation report. He says that he has complete accounts of all the expenses of the temple and he will present his case strongly in the court. In such a situation, now everyone’s eyes are on legal action, FIR and further investigation in this entire matter.
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