All is not well in the Shirdi Saibaba temple at Dilsukhnagar. A former trustee of the temple has lodged a complaint with the endowments department alleging large-scale irregularities and misappropriation of funds. The endowments assistant commissioner, Mr Ramanamurthy, who was asked to probe the allegations by endowments commissioner, had to retreat on Monday following a six-week stay granted by endowments minister C. Ramachandraiah.
Tension prevailed near the temple as supporters of present and past Trust members came to blows following the visit by endowments department officials to conduct an inquiry. Timely intervention by the police prevented the situation from turning ugly. Devotees who had come to the temple to offer prayers expressed dismay at the unruly behaviour of the supporters of the Trust board.
“We received a complaint of misappropriation of funds by a former trustee, Jai Swami. However, the probe has to be stopped in view of the stay granted by endowments minister,” Mr Ramanamurthy told this newspaper. Former trustee Jai Swami alleged that about Rs 10 crore was misappropriated by the present body to buy hundis, construction of queue lines, garlands and other items. He lodged a complaint with the endowments commissioner, who ordered a public inquiry on Monday. Mr Swami demanded that the endowments commissioner dissolve the present board of trustees.
However, the present board of trustees headed by Mr Mallaiah denied the charge and accused the former members of the trust of misleading the endowments department. Though the Saibaba temple does not come under the purview of endowments department, the government can order a probe when it gets complaints of irregularities. The Shirdi Saibaba temple was inaugurated by H.H.H. Vidya Narayana Teertha on April 21, 1985 by installing a small idol of Sri Shirdi Saibaba. In 1989, a larger-than-life idol was installed. Hundreds of devotees visit the temple daily, with a heavy rush on Thursdays.