The State government on Saturday took over administration of the Vinayaka temple at Jayanagar 4th block following allegations of mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds and properties by the Sri Vinayaka Seva Samithi, which manages the temple.
The temple has been declared as a notified temple under section 42 and 43 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997.
During an inquiry conducted by Assistant Commissioner of Muzrai Department, it was found that the site on which the temple was built is a civic amenity site and the Sri Vinayaka Seva Samithi has been in illegal possession of the site since 1977. The samiti did not take approval from the authorities concerned either for possession of land or construction of the temple and its renovation during 2009.
The inquiry was conducted after the department received complaints from devotees about irregularities in the temple administration. The replies given by the temple management committee on the charges levelled against it were not found to be satisfactory, said an order passed by the Revenue Department on January 2.
The inquiry found no proper maintenance of accounts, lack of documents to show approvals obtained during meetings for temple activities, no evaluation of silver, gold and diamond ornaments donated to the temple and insufficient details of donors, opening of temple hundis in the absence of a representative of devotees or the public, and carrying out certain religious rituals against the will of devotees.
