Did Shabridham donations aid terror?

SURAT: If former close aides of Swami Aseemanand, who had worked with him during the construction of Shabridham temple and in organising the Shabri Kumbh, are to be believed, the funds meant for the fair and the temple might have been used to finance the terror plots in the country. Crores of rupees collected as donations for the temple and the fair are under the scanner of the investigating agencies after the reported confession of Swami Aseemanand about his involvement in Samjhauta Express blast.The investigative agencies are now focusing on unearthing important links related to funds for the terror plot and sourcing of explosives.
In the investigation of Malegaon blast, the Maharashtra ATS had revealed involvement of Lt Col Shrikant Purohit in the sourcing of the explosives. However, the sleuths were unable to gather details related to financing of the terror plots.
Former active members of Shabri Kumbh informed TOI that the investigating agencies have begun questioning people about the funding details of the fair and construction of the temple.
About five lakh visitors were expected at the fair between February 11 to 13 in 2006. Funds had been collected keeping in view the estimated number of people at the fair. However, the actual turnout of the visitors at the fair was about two lakh only and a huge chunk of money remained unutilised, sources said, adding that the incomplete 'bhojnalaya' on the temple premises is also one of the indicators of non-utilisation of funds.
RSS and VHP workers from across the country and from foreign countries had collected the funds, with the NRIs contributing generously for the fair and construction of the temple from 2002 to 2006.