A CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH: Sri Sri Kalibari temple committee, Dibrugarh on Thursday filed an FIR against former Secretary of Sri Sri Kalibari temple, Gopal Nandi, for mismanagement of funds and gross anomalies during his tenure as Secretary.
Addressing a press conference on Friday here, Mainak Patra, Secretary of Sri Sri Kalibari temple, said, “Ex-Secretary Gopal Nandi during his tenure as Secretary of Sri Sri Kalibari temple, kept two gold crowns (Mukut), one big crown weighting 16 tolas, and other smaller ones weighing about 10 tolas in his custody. These were being used to crown Devi Maa during Kali Puja in the past.”
“On January 7, when I was handed over the charge of the mandir, Gopal Nandi admitted that the bigger crown was missing from his custody but in the meeting he had given an undertaking that he would fully compensate the loss by making a payment of Rs 24,37,500,” Patra said.
Patra alleged, “Gopal Nandi has neither given the particulars of cash collected and payments made by him during his tenure, nor submitted the books of accounts to the new committee till date. The average collection per year was about Rs 10 lakh. As per the cashier, the cash collections were taken by Gopal Nandi at his residence and no expenditure details were submitted during his tenure.”
“Lots of anomalies and mismanagement of funds happened during his tenure. We have filed an FIR regarding the matter and want a proper investigation into the case,” the Secretary said.
He added, “Gopal Nandi admitted that the gold donations given by the devotees during his tenure of 18 years as Secretary were sold by him without any official resolution and without intimating any other members, including the then President, the donations amounting to about 75 tolas approximately, considering two years worth donations of 8 tolas during 2022 and 20223. Thus, he misappropriated the entire sum derived by stealthily selling the aforesaid gold collection.”
“Moreover the said Secretary also misappropriated about Rs 5 lakh by stealthily selling iron and corrugated sheets/ timber scraps, etc. Over and above, he has not submitted any particulars of donations received in kind and other materials like sarees, etc till date. He also opened the locker of the Sri Sri Kalibari temple kept with Punjab National Bank on February 16, 2022, just before handing over the charge to the new committee,” Patra said. “He (Gopal Nandi) is accountable for every donation given by the devotees for the development of the mandir,” said Rinku Pal, Treasure of the temple.
“We demand a high-level inquiry against Gopal Nandi and if he is found guilty then strict action should be taken against him,” said Biswajit Sarkar, Assistant Secretary of the temple. Head President Manoj Chakraborty and other office bearers of the temple committee were present during the press meet.
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