The Ranchi district administration has deputed eight magistrates for the counting of soiled notes found in the donation boxes of Pahari Temple – a prominent devotional site of the State which annually gets a handsome amount of money from the devotees as endowment. Notably, a huge amount of soiled notes have been recovered from the donation boxes of Pahari Temple recently.
Ranchi DC, Rai Mahimapat Ray on Tuesday said that under the strict vigilance of officials, magistrates and CCTV cameras surveillance, the notes counting is being done. “After receiving the inputs about the soiled notes on September 23, orders have been issued to the members of Pahari Mandir Vikash Samiti and magistrates to form a team and complete the counting task. The counting of soiled notes is going on. After getting the final report, action will be taken accordingly,” said the Ranchi DC.
The DC further added that due to the lack of cooperation from the nodal organisation – Pahari Mandir Vikash Samiti, such situation has arisen. Meanwhile, Pahari Mandir Vikash Samiti, Officer (PR), Mukesh Kumar Agarwal said, “Due to the delay in opening the donation boxes that was sealed a few months back by Former SDO, Anjali Yadav such situation has come. The donation boxes were sealed without stating any valid reason to any committee member.”
Besides, Agarwal added that earlier the donation boxes were opened every week especially during the ‘Shravan’ month for counting the donated money in the presence of the committee members. “Earlier on the order of the Treasurer of the committee, over 70 to 80 persons was involved in counting the money donated but I am witnessing such situation for the first time, when the donation boxes are yet to be opened. Only the administration has the right to open the sealed boxes and the present Ranchi SDO is yet to take the charge, therefore, at present, we are helpless,” he said.
Meanwhile, neither the district administration nor the members of the committee could clarify the total amount of soiled notes recovered till Tuesday evening. “The counting is going on. A few more days will be required in counting as altogether there are 23 donation boxes. After completing the counting of a few boxes, the officials have informed that major donation amount is safe,” Agarwal stated. As per the sources, annually more than Rs. one crore comes in the temple’s fund from various means predominantly donation.