Updated

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Mar 23: After a few videos went viral over a trustee of Kadri Lord Manjunatheshwara temple here, allegedly stealing the money collected in donation box of the temple, the person involved in the center of the controversy, Niveditha N Shetty, issued a clarification. 

Niveditha, the temple trustee, in a media release said, “False news is being spread against me on media and social media on Kadri Lord Manjunatheshwara temple offertory money. This is false and far away from truth. Hence, in this regard, I have filed a written complaint to the police commissioner and urged him to take stringent action against those who are indulging in spreading false news.” 

Kadri Lord Manjunatheshwara temple (file photo) 

She further stated, “Temple management committee member Purushotham H K is aspiring to become the president of the administrative committee. As I did not support him and instead recommended A J Shetty's name for the post, with a grudge, he pressurized me to resign from the post of committee member. He had also told many a times that if I do not resign from the post, I will face consequences. Yet, I never took him seriously. 

“Now, false news is being spread on the media and social media to destroy my reputation. False news is being spread by Purushotham with the help of another person, Tejpal Suvarna. Hence, I am filing a defamation case against Purushotham and Tejpal with the police commissioner. I also invite Purushotham and Tejpal to swear before the deity of Shri Kshetra Kadri,” she stated in the media release. 

Earlier report

Mangaluru: Woman trustee swindles temple money - CCTV cameras record deception

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 23: A trustee of Kadri Lord Manjunatheshwara temple here, who was appointed by the government, allegedly stole the money collected in donations box of the temple. This act was reportedly captured by the CCTV cameras installed at the temple.

The money collected in the temple donation boxes was counted and accounted for on February 24. Two days later, one of the trustees received a call from an unidentified woman to tell him that she had seen the said lady trustee stuffing Rs 500 currency notes into her blouse during the counting operation. She asked him to check the CCTV footage if he could not trust what she said.

The trustees together checked the CCTV coverage and found that the said lady trustee had put a bundle of currency notes into a bag. Thereafter, an emergency meeting of the managing committee of the temple was convened. After discussions, the trustee in question had agreed to resign. Even after a week she did not tender her resignation. The locals then complained to the district administration.

District in-charge minister V Sunil Kumar, said he was ignorant of this development. He said that if the trustee has done something wrong, there is no question of saving anyone and that the concerned will face action. It is said that the commissioner in the Muzrai department has to initiate necessary action.