New Delhi: The Savarna family in West Bengal has levelled corruption allegations against the management of the Kali Ghat Temple in West Bengal. In a statement
given to a judge they alleged that a fraud to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore occurred at the temple.
The family further said that the keys to the temple’s vault where the jewellery of the deity is stored is reportedly missing since 1980.
The Savarna Roy Chowdhury family is historically linked to the Kalighat Kali temple. They have approached the South 24 Parganas district judge (ex-officio chairman of the temple committee) with a written complaint, alleging long standing financial irregularities at the temple.
Debarshi Roy Chowdhury, secretary of the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury Family Council, said the family has informed the judge that the key to a vault in a state-owned bank, designated to store the goddess’s wealth and jewelry, has not been found since 1980. He further said that the committee mandated to maintain the account of the temple’s wealth has already completed its term. He alleged that this committee has not done any proper accounting of the wealth, for years now.
Chowdhury reportedly said, “looting is going on there” and this had eroded the trust of the devotees.
Following the complaint, the West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari said that he had asked the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to enquire in the matter. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has refused to make any comment on the issue as of now. It’s leader and spokesperson, Kunal Ghosh said that the party was keeping an eye on this issue and he would make a statement on behalf of the party only after seeking permission from the high command.
The alleged corruption at Kalighat Temple, comes at a time when the BJP and the Central government are already facing Opposition heat over the stealing of offerings at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Though enquiries led to several arrests and even resignation of the Temple Trust’s General Secretary, Champat Rai, the Congress and the other Opposition parties refused to back down on the criticism of the BJP.
The Opposition has alleged that the BJP played with the trust of the devotees at Ayodhya. Now this new allegation at West Bengal’s popular Kali Temple would again give the Opposition an opportunity to target the BJP, as it is in power in West Bengal as well.
