Udupi: Devotees accuse temple committee of misusing public money

Udupi, Jul 30: Sri Annappa Panjurli Daivasthana at Kodavoor here is a well-known temple, with a history of nearly 800 years. People of the surrounding places, irrespective of caste, religion and creed, participate in the religious rituals of this temple with great pomp and joy.

The Sri Annappa Panjurli devotees' union, Kanganabettu, Kodavoor has now accused the committee that was formed during Brahmakalashotsava celebrations in the temple in 2011 of indulging in misappropriation of funds.

On February 9, 2011, Brahamakalashotsava was held in this temple with the support of the devotees. A new committee was formed for this, comprising Dr Hariprasad Aithal as the president of the committee, along with Diwakar Shetty Thotadamane Kodavoor as secretary and Shreesha Kodavoor as treasurer. These three people are the prime accused in the complaint filed by the devotees' union.

A sum of approximately Rs 12 lac was collected for the purpose of making a golden mask for the idol, and the responsibility of collecting the amount was with the above office-bearers. The three of them had bought a golden mask worth Rs 2,27,361 from Swarna Jewellers in Mangalore, stated the devotees in a media release.

"The names of those who had donated large amounts were carved in granite and hung on the temple wall, but there were many who donated Rs 500, Rs 1000 and Rs 5000. There are no documents or proof of payments by these donors. They have also not given a proper statement of accounts either," they alleged.

"Secondly, Sri Shiroor Lakshmivarateertha Swamiji had handed over a golden sword to the temple during the  annual feast on February 23, 2013. This sword was brought to the temple in a grand procession. But within 4 months of the donation, it came to light that sword was not made of gold. As this news reached the Swamiji, he took back the sword. It is now known that the above mentioned three people were involved in this," the devotees said.

"The committee secretary has connection with the land mafia and he has built a commercial office building with the money collected for the temple and has also furnished it with expensive furniture. The threesome also gifted the Bhoota Kola artiste with a golden bangle with the money collected from the devotees," they added.

A memorandum in this regard was sent to the state home minister K J George, Udupi MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, Udupi DC Dr M T Reju, superintendent of police Dr Boralingaiah and others, urging them to check the authenticity of the other gold ornaments in the temple and to make the actual value of the total gold public, and thereby give justice to the devotees, besides taking action against the accused.