Trimbakeshwar temple trustee arrested for ‘quick’ darshan racket

Nashik: The Trimbakeshwar police arrested Purushottam Kadlag, a trustee of the Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust, early on Tuesday in connection with a cheating case registered on Saturday over alleged illegal fast darshan fees at the Trimbakeshwar temple.Kadlag was accused of masterminding a racket in which agents charged devotees exorbitant amounts for quick darshan at the temple, which is one of the 12 jyotirlingas that see a continuous flow of pilgrims.The case was registered after a complaint filed on Saturday by Ananda Mehandale, who said that Gotiram Pehere, a resident of Trimbakeshwar, and his accomplices took Rs 3,000 from him for a quick darshan. While the darshan was facilitated, no official receipt was provided, which constituted cheating as the trust did not authorise such private fees.Acting on the complaint, the police initially arrested Pehere. Investigations revealed that Pehere teamed up with Kadlag's close family members, specifically his nephews, to exploit the trustee's influence. The group reportedly charged devotees anywhere from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000, and sometimes even more, for illegal entry into the temple.The police established Purushottam Kadlag's direct role in the conspiracy, leading to his arrest. A local court remanded him in police custody till April 20.Superintendent of police Balasaheb Patil told the reporters that there were reports of agents charging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 12,000 without providing receipts."Following directions from principal district and sessions judge Rahul Rokade, to address illegal darshan practices at the temple, the Nashik rural police conducted a sting operation after which Pehere was arrested, and one more person was booked in the cheating case. Subsequently, Purushottam Kadlag was arrested after it was found that he misused his position as a trustee to facilitate illegal entry through a separate gate for those willing to pay large sums," said SP Patil.Currently, the temple offers a ‘donation darshan' pass for Rs 200. However, due to the massive crowds, even those with these passes often wait in queues for long hours.While Purushottam Kadlag and Gotiram Pehere are in custody, the whereabouts of Kadlag's two nephews are still not known. The Trimbakeshwar police have launched a search to apprehend them.