Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday ordered a comprehensive inquiry into alleged financial irregularities involving donations at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple and directed officials to scrutinise the shrine’s records for the past five years.
The directive came amid allegations over the handling of temple donations and the arrest of nine employees in connection with an alleged theft of funds.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has alleged that nearly ₹18 crore from the temple’s donations was being siphoned off every year.
Officials said Fadnavis ordered the wider scrutiny after a delegation from the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust met him and presented details of collections between 2023 and 2026.
The Chief Minister directed officials to examine records covering five years, including donation collections and related financial transactions, and submit a report at the earliest.
Five-Year Records Under Scrutiny
The expanded examination is expected to determine whether the amounts collected from devotees correspond with the figures recorded in the temple’s accounts and whether there were lapses in the systems used to collect, handle and account for the money.
The scrutiny will also allow authorities to examine whether any discrepancies were isolated incidents or indicative of broader problems in the temple’s financial and administrative procedures.
The controversy intensified after the alleged theft led to action against temple employees.
Siddhivinayak Temple Trust chairman and Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Sada Sarvankar said nine employees had been arrested in connection with the alleged theft.
The arrests, coupled with Thackeray’s allegation of annual fund siphoning, have brought the temple’s accounting and donation-management procedures under increased scrutiny.
Shinde Had Earlier Sought Inquiry
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had also sought an independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities last month and directed officials to initiate the process.
Fadnavis’s latest direction widens the scrutiny beyond the period for which the temple trust had submitted collection details.
Officials said examining five years of records would help establish whether any discrepancies were limited to a particular period or reflected a wider pattern in the handling and accounting of donations.
The allegations of financial wrongdoing remain subject to investigation. The inquiry will determine the extent of any discrepancies and whether further action is warranted.
