ALLEGED CRORES MISAPPROPRIATED AT PUTTUR MAHALINGESHWAR TEMPLE: SAMITHI DEMANDS SUSPENSION OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

PUTTUR: Serious allegations of financial irregularities, violation of Muzrai Department norms, and political interference have surfaced against the Management Committee of the famous Sri Mahalingeshwar Temple in Puttur. Addressing a press conference, representatives of the Temple Protection Committee (Devasthana Samrakshana Samithi) presented documentary evidence alleging widespread corruption and administrative lapses under the current management

The committee highlighted multiple instances of unpermitted financial transactions, including a self-drawn amount of ₹3,00,248 from temple accounts, an act strictly prohibited across government departments. Between January 2025 and May 2026, over ₹40.03 lakh was allegedly withdrawn under the guise of minor expenses and repair works without proper department clearances or oversight

Lapses were also pointed out regarding temple assets and gold ornaments. Under Rule 35 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Rules, temple ornaments must be weighed and certified annually by official goldsmiths. However, the management allegedly bypassed standard evaluation procedures, recording ornament weights merely on an estimated value. Furthermore, mature timber trees—including teak, jackfruit, and benga—spread across 15 acres of temple land in Tenkila were allegedly felled without obtaining mandatory permissions or valuation from the Forest Department

The Samithi further alleged that works such as building demolitions and heavy machinery operation were awarded without issuing public tenders or obtaining PWD valuations. Old building materials worth lakhs of rupees were auctioned off for nominal amounts of ₹45,000 and ₹52,000 without proper inventory tracking. Additionally, unauthorised pink-coloured slips were allegedly used to collect funds during the annual festival instead of official temple receipts, and bank accounts were opened to collect donations prior to obtaining formal government approval for the renovation committee

Holding Management Committee President Panjigudde Ishwara Bhat and local MLA Ashok Kumar Rai responsible for the interference and administrative breakdown, the temple protection panel demanded that the Deputy Commissioner immediately form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to audit the accounts. They also urged the authorities to place the Management Committee under suspension and dismiss the Executive Officer

Warning of further action, the committee announced that if corrective steps are not taken within a week, devotees will convee for a massive public protest at the Mahalingeshwar Temple grounds on September 21, the committee members told in a press conference here today.

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The Hans India