Mahesh Vengurlekar claimed that in the last year on August 31, 2014, based on the complaints filed by him, the Governor had ordered the department of law and justice to investigate the corruption charges against the mandal.
Social activist Mahesh Vengurlekar has demanded a criminal investigation in the alleged multi-crore corruption scam by the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Committee.
Vengurlekar had earlier threatened to stage an indefinite hunger protest for seeking probe into the allegations. He has been levelling allegations against one of the most famous and richest Ganpati committees of the state for siphoning away funds and donations made by devotees every year.
According to the activist, the Lalbaughcha Raja mandal earns crores of rupees through generous donations made by devotees coming from across the country. Apart from money, devotees also donate gold, silver and precious stones.
"The collected wealth is neither documented nor accounted for anywhere. Even revenue earned through advertising during the Ganeshotsav period is not maintained in any account book by the committee," alleged Vengurlekar.
The activist added that the mandal secretary Sudhir Salvi has kept the Ganeshotsav donations and offerings as personal property.
Vengurlekar claimed that in the last year on August 31, 2014, based on the complaints filed by him, the Governor had ordered the department of law and justice to investigate the corruption charges against the mandal. The department had then instructed the charity commissioner's office to probe the same as the committee was registered with them.
"Even the charity commissioner's office decided to refrain from probing the charges. Thus, I have demanded that there must be a criminal investigation against all committee members of the mandal," said Vengurlekar.
Last year on August 28, the activist who was about to initiate an indefinite hunger protest against the mandal was denied permission by the police and charged him under section 149 of the Indian Penal Code.
Vengurlekar claimed that the mandal volunteers have also groped women devotees as well as harassed them. "Similar incidents have been captured on CCTV and reported by news channels, but till date the committee continues to carry out its corrupt ways and is not suspended," he alleged.
Sudhir Salvi and Ashok Maruti Pawar, committee president, remained unavailable for comment. iamin reporter was also denied a meeting with the committee members at Lalbaug by the police.
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