MUMBAI: The state government is exploring the possibility of appointing its own trustee to the board of
Mumbadevi
temple, the historic shrine that gives the city its name. The BJP’s
Raj Purohit, who is the
MLA of the locality, has levelled allegations of corruption and mismanagement against the trust, which in turn has denied his claims.
A shrine representative said the government could not possibly take over the shrine without giving the trustees a fair and full hearing. He said, “Where is the problem in the temple? Around 5,000-7,000 devotees arrive each day. There are drinking water and toilet facilities for them, the queues are orderly. And since our shrine is high on the threat list of terror strikes, we have installed CCTV cameras and drafted security personnel to man the premises continuously, more so on festival days. It is not as if these facilities were installed after Purohit’s complaint. We also submit all accounts in time to the charity commissioner.”
Sources claimed the MLA has a history of disputes with the temple, including one where local shopkeepers approached court against the trust.
Mumbadevi is one of the richest temples in the city, a winning proposition for those who control its fortunes. In fact the Kolis of
Versova
led by union leader
Rajhans Tapke
have now offered to “take care” of the shrine given that its origins lay in their community.
In 1980, the state had taken over
Siddhivinayak
temple under a special act.
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