God’s Money of Shri Mukambika Temple in Karnataka worth crores of rupees robbed by the temple management

• Federation of Devasthan and Religious Institutions in Karnataka reveals information at a press conference
•  Federation of Devasthan and Religious Institutions warns of state-wide agitation if action is not taken against Government officials
• No action against Government officials who looted the money, in 15 years!

It is annoying that most of the Government-run temples across India are not free from Government control even though it is revealed that corruption is taking place or the sanctity of temples is not being preserved.

Udupi (Karnataka) – If the donations offered by the devotees out of devotion will go to the pockets of corrupt officials, then why should the devotees donate in the temples ? The RTI has revealed that Government officials in the Shri Mukambika Devasthan Management Committee have looted crores of rupees. Wealth offered by devotees is God’s money and looting it is a great sin. Shri Mukambikadevi will definitely punish these great sinners; however, it is the religious duty of every devotee to fight for strict action against these officials and to immediately abolish the ‘Government take-over of temples’ which has become a tool for looting God’s money. Mr. Guruprasad Gowda, Spokesman of Federation of Devasthan and Religious Institutions warned that if immediate action is not taken against these Government officials, a state-wide agitation will be launched. He was speaking at a press conference organised to expose the massive scams and financial malpractices in the management committee of the Government-run Shri Mukambika Temple in Kollur. At this time, a member of the federation, Mr. Madhusudan Iyer was also present. A press conference was also held in Bangalore on the same subject. State Coordinator of the Federation Mr. Mohan Gowda presented the aspects.

Liberate all temples taken over by the Government

Mr. Gowda informed about the scams in Shri Mukambika Temple in Kollur based on the information obtained through RTI Act. The Comptroller and Auditor General, in his audit report for the year 2018-19 stated that the Government of Karnataka owned and invested in 140 companies, co-operative institutions, Local Bodies and Regional Rural Banks a massive sum of Rs. 66,518 Crores, it was yielding a meagre amount of Rs. 38 Crores (0.06%) per year and the Government had to pay interest of 8.2% on this investment amount. The Companies where the Government has investigated huge amounts are consistently making loss. At this background, when the Government is not able the business units for which it employed highly paid IAS officers, how one could assume that the government is able to manage the temples in the State properly? The above facts are exposed in respect of only one temple. Therefore, we are demanding to liberate all temples taken over by the Government, said Mr. Gowda.

Mr. Gowda further said, “A delegation of our members will be meeting the Hon’ble Minister Kota Shirinivas Poojary as also Hon’ble Chief Minister seeking immediate and proper action on these illegalities. Our struggle will continue till the last rupee is recovered from the corrupt and he is punished”.

The present Government is expected to look after the intersts of Hindus. These things are happening since long and it is high time that the temple protectors also take up the task in these temples, Gowda said.

Officials appointed to manage the temples are using the temple as if it were their own private property! – Mr. Madhusudan Iyer

If this is happening at the Shri Mukambika Temple, one of the most important temples in the State, then it is better not to imagine what Government officials are doing in other temples. Officials appointed to manage the temples are using the temple as their own private property. Also, why only Hindu temples are controlled by the Government ? Why mosques and churches are not taken over ? Is this the secularism of the Government ? We will not tolerate this and will fight against it on the streets.

Following demands were made on this occasion

1. The issues raised by the Government auditors be dealt with stern hands and the corrupt be punished in a time bound manner, The outstanding amount should be recovered from the responsible officers.

2.A thorough and transparent audit, including performance, spiritual and social audit be conducted.

3.the results of audit and all transactions should be made open to the public.

4.All important informations/records should be timely uploaded on the temple website so as to allow total transparency

5.All temples in the State should be liberated and handed over to devotees.

Some of the examples exposed by Mr. Gowda based on information gathered from RTI Act

1. Gold and Jewellery – records not maintained deliberately ?

Temple has priceless ornaments. The Temple authorities are not maintaining any proper records of the donations received in precious metals such as Gold, Silver and Ornaments. The inventory was not submitted to the Government Auditors uptill the year 2018-19. The inventory should be physically verified periodically and also certified by the Executive Officer as it is on his risk. No such thing is happening in the temple.

This is serious at the backdrop of a 4.20 Kg Gold Jewellery theft by none other than the Executive Officer – What will be happening when the protectors themselves turn perpetrators. The situation should have been changed even after such a big crime committed in the Temple. But the situation does not change for the selfish interests some, it seems.

2. Huge amounts siphoned off by showing Bogus Employees ?

There are no details of the employees of the Temple, despite of detailed provisions made u/s 13 of the Act. Their identification details, KYC details, birth dates etc are not maintained by the temple authorities.
Despite of the notices, the Temple has not paid for the Provident Fund not registered with the Provident Fund Commissioner the fine imposed on the Temple officers of Rs. 7,46,355/-  which should have been recovered from the salary of the Government Officials is paid from the donations of the Devotees.

Despite of repeatedly raising this point – the Temple Authorities have not paid any heed to this issue and neglected the same. The issue is serious as many temporary employees are also in the service of the temple.

This can lead to an inference that though the name of the employees and their salary slips exist on record, they are bogus employees – a common fraud found at many places may also be happening here and the salary and such other expenditure for such employees may be siphoned off by a syndicate of the government officers and temple employees. This is very serious in nature. Or there may be employees who are appointed not as per requirements and merits – but as per recommendations and without requirement at the cost of the donations given by the Devotees.

3. Long pending advances – The temple has given advances to the contractors/outsiders for some or other work.

• We had access to the 2004 accounts which showed that an amount of 2.41 Crore was pending outstanding. Instead of the advances decreasing, have increasing and crossed 2.83 Crores in year 2018-19.
• There are no details as to from whom and for what the amounts are to be recovered. No details are shown to the Government Auditor auditing these accounts nor any explanation with proper documents is given.
• The advances parted with the temple money without due permissions being taken. This is illegality and departmental inquiry needs to be conducted of the officers who indulged in such transactions.
• Whether these amounts are in fact outstanding or a mere show in the books and will never come back to the account of the temple is a question. There is a possibility that the amounts are siphoned off and they will continue to be shown as outstanding only to be ‘written off’ one day as they will not be recovered. The government officers responsible for the same must be prosecuted for the non-recovery and possible writing off of the amounts.

4. No proper details of land and other assets

This is yet another chronical problem faced by almost all temples regardless of their place and state – The records are not maintained properly and the encroachers occupying the temple land. There is also a discordant note by the auditor stating the fixed assets are also not recorded properly.

Ilegal transactions

• The Temple has donated to others  – without sanction, without receipts coming from the donees
  Temple made various expenditures – which are neither supported by bills/vouchers – nor any efforts are made to address the problem despite of auditor stating about the same.
• Year 2004-05 – Telephone Bill Paid Rs 1, 45,094 But whether it was used for temple purpose – no details given
  From 2005- 2018 the temple paid for the school uniforms for the students, amounting to Rs. 53.93 Lacs. However, the receipts and utilization certificates are absent. In fact, the temple authorities should have audited the schools to find out whether the temple money was utilized properly, instead even the proper receipts are also not kept.
• Year 2011-12 Temple authorities paid Rs. 2, 35, 555 to purchase Bucket & Dustbin for Guest house. How many buckets and dustbins would come in such an amount and how many actually required ? no budget, no rate cards taken.
• DC house telephone bills are paid from temple funds for 2018 to the tune of Rs. 23,363/-. The Municipality employees are also paid from the temple funds. Why ? the government does not have funds ? or these are double payments ? so that one payment goes into someone’s pocket ? questions need to be answered !

5. Unexplained Expenditure and outstanding incomes

When the expenditures are not proper, there are huge dues outstanding even from the Guesthouses which are normally used temporarily by the devotees such as the dues were more than 21.52 lacs as on 31.3.2018. This is a loss to the temple fund.

6. The auditor has kept transactions amounting to Rs. 21.80 Crores under Objections and has expected a recovery of Rs. 84.96 lacs which is outstanding.

It is at this background that we opposed the taking over of the temples in Balgaum District as the appointment of administrator was and is without reasoning. It is also to be noted that the temples are not managed properly in throughout the state.