New Delhi: Adopting a stern stance on Tuesday regarding the alleged misappropriation of offerings at the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, the Supreme Court directed that every single penny of donations must be deposited into the temple's donation boxes or its online fund. A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana considered arguments presented by Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, who cited a status report submitted by the high-level committee overseeing the temple's affairs.
Presenting photographs before the court, Singh highlighted serious issues requiring immediate attention. He stated, "There is a video showing three individuals standing in front of the traditional donation box; they are collecting money from devotees and putting it directly into their own polythene bags."
Making a strong observation on this matter, the bench remarked, "There should be no ambiguity regarding this. We direct that every single penny of donations must be deposited into the temple's donation boxes or the online fund. If a *sevayat* (priest/servitor) or any other person creates any obstruction in this process, it will be viewed very seriously. The management committee must implement a transparent system for the temple's treasury."
The bench was hearing petitions filed by the management committee of the Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple.