Amb/Una, July 30: The Temple Trust and district administration have initiated a multi-level inquiry, taking prompt action regarding a case of suspected irregularities in the 'Sugam Darshan' (easy access pilgrimage) system at the Mata Shri Chintpurni Temple. Acting on the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal, an FIR was immediately registered. Additionally, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Una has been appointed as the investigating officer to conduct a comprehensive administrative probe and ensure necessary procedural and administrative reforms for the future; he is to submit his report within seven days. All concerned officials, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Amb, will provide the necessary cooperation for the investigation.
In a press release issued by the Temple Trust, Paras Agarwal—Assistant Commissioner of the Trust and SDM of Amb—stated that necessary steps are being taken to further strengthen the technical security and transparency of the 'Sugam Darshan' system.
According to the press release, the Deputy Commissioner was apprised of the matter as soon as the suspected irregularity came to the Trust's notice on July 19. An FIR was registered immediately following his instructions. To ensure transparency, new staff members were deployed to replace those previously working with the 'Sugam Darshan' system. Simultaneously, the Temple Trust constituted a three-member preliminary inquiry committee to investigate the matter.
During the preliminary technical inquiry, software transactions from July 19 were analyzed. The investigation revealed that while 23 actual transactions had taken place that day, the system displayed 88 transactions. Prima facie, it is suspected that the additional entries arose from the potential misuse of the software's login ID and password (software credentials) by an unauthorized person. However, the Trust clarified that a final conclusion regarding this matter would be drawn only after receiving the detailed technical inquiry report and the findings of the inquiry committee.
The press release noted that the 'Sugam Darshan' system, launched in 2023, aims to provide a convenient and organized pilgrimage experience for devotees, particularly the elderly, women, children, and persons with disabilities. To date, over ?12 crore in service charges has been collected through this system; these funds are being utilized to develop pilgrim facilities and support public welfare and social assistance initiatives.
The Trust has clarified that the fee charged for the 'Sugam Darshan' (expedited viewing) pass is not a donation or offering to the temple, but rather a prescribed service charge for providing this facility. A separate, transparent, and systematic record is maintained for donations and offerings received at the temple, and these are entirely distinct from this service charge.
Necessary correspondence is underway with the Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation Limited to further strengthen the technical security and transparency of the 'Sugam Darshan' system, ensuring its future operation is even more secure, reliable, and transparent.
The police are investigating the matter based on the FIR. Meanwhile, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Una, appointed to conduct an administrative inquiry, will examine the records of the entire episode. He is tasked with verifying facts, fixing accountability, making necessary recommendations, and suggesting procedural and administrative reforms to prevent the recurrence of such irregularities in the future; he will submit his report within seven days.
The Temple Trust and the district administration have stated that ensuring pilgrim convenience, transparency, and accountability is their top priority. Necessary action will be taken based on the facts established after the inquiry concludes, and authentic information regarding the matter will be released to the public periodically. Pilgrims, citizens, and media representatives are urged not to rely on unverified or misleading information and to treat only the official announcements issued by the Temple Trust and the administration as authentic.