An inquiry has been ordered by the Madhya Pradesh government into alleged financial irregularities and unauthorised collection of donations at the Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Nalkheda.
This comes after the incident triggered a major political row between the ruling BJP and Congress.
In an order issued on Tuesday, the Agar-Malwa Collector stated that a three-member inquiry committee has been constituted to further investigate the matter. This comes after complaints were received regarding a non-governmental committee allegedly collecting donations separately from the officially recognised temple management committee.
It had been claimed that cash, gold, silver, jewellery and other valuables donated by devotees were being collected through a parallel system and the same was getting deposited into private bank accounts.
“The allegations regarding collection of donations through a non-governmental committee, use of private bank accounts and financial irregularities are serious in nature. Therefore, an impartial and detailed inquiry is necessary,” the Collector said in the order, according to IANS.
The committee will be headed by VS Chaubey, Chief Executive Officer of the District Panchayat, Agar-Malwa. The members include District Treasury Officer Manish Chaubey and Nalkheda Chief Municipal Officer Mini Agrawal.
It has been ordered to inspect the temple premisese, examine records and bank accounts, verify donations received in cash and valuables, and find out whether any parallel system for collecting donations was operating.
Further, the committee will look into the alleged role of government officials, temple management representatives, or any other person in the irregularities.
The panel is required to submit its report with a week.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar recently claimed that following controversies over the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as well as alleged land encroachment linked to the Mahakal Temple, similar allegations had surfaced at the Maa Baglamukhi Temple.
Demanding a transparent inquiry, Singhar said the state government should ensure proper accounting of devotees’ donations and take strict action against those found guilty.
Speaking to IANS, Madhya Pradesh Minister for Religious Trusts and Endowments Dharmendra Lodhi said that the alleged irregularities at the Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Nalkheda were committed by individuals who were not part of the temple management committee.
“People outside the temple committee carried out the irregularities. Our government will not spare anyone found guilty. The inquiry is underway, and strict action will be taken against all those responsible at the earliest,” Lodhi said.
Maa Baglamukhi Temple is situated in the Agar-Malwa district and is considered one of the most prominent shrines dedicated to Goddess Baglamukhi, one of the ten Mahavidyas in Hindu tradition.