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Hindustan Times
29-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Fraudsters duping devotees in the name of ‘darshan' in temples across Maha
PUNE: A series of incidents across major temples in Maharashtra have exposed malpractices ranging from black marketing of darshan passes to fake QR codes and portals to misuse of VIP entry; all of which have exploited the faith (and desperation) of devotees seeking a satisfying spiritual experience. While these cases were reported separately, taken together, they reveal a disconcerting pattern that has forced temple authorities and district administrations to revisit the systems that are presently in place. Indian devotees gather at The Shani Shingnapur Temple in Ahmednagar, some 200kms east of Mumbai on April 2, 2016. Angry villagers blocked a group of women activists from entering the inner sanctum of a temple in western India, despite a court order mandating Hindu women's right to worship / AFP PHOTO / STR (AFP) At the Jyotirlinga shrine in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, Nashik rural police arrested five men for black marketing of darshan passes wherein they used fake identities to book multiple passes—officially priced at ₹200—only to subsequently sell them at ₹800 to ₹1,000 apiece. Having worked at flower stalls near the temple, the men used the familiarity to approach devotees unfamiliar with the online pass booking system. Mahesh Kulkarni, police inspector at Trimbakeshwar police station, said, 'Many devotees don't know how to book online passes. These accused would offer to help such devotees under the pretext of selling flowers.' Initially, they helped the devotees book passes for free while selling flowers but soon realised that they could exploit the system to their advantage. With no mechanism to crosscheck identity cards during online booking, the accused began mass booking passes and reselling them at inflated prices. The police found out that one of the accused, Shivraj Aher, booked over 1,000 passes in this manner. The accused had also created a WhatsApp group through which the passes were sold. Investigators suspect that more people may be involved in this racket. Purushottam Kadalag, trustee at the Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust, said, 'The accused benefitted from the loopholes in the online darshan pass system. We are also in the process of learning and after this incident, we have decided to crosscheck the issued passes with the respective identities (id's) of the devotees. Also, we will soon introduce an Aadhar card number-based darshan pass system to avoid such incidents in future.' In Shani Shingnapur, devotees were misled by fake websites and QR codes offering services such as VIP darshan, online puja, abhishek and oil offerings - none of which were authorised by the temple trust. The cybercrime unit has registered an FIR, and identified at least five such fraudulent platforms. Somnath Gharge, superintendent of police, Ahilyanagar district, said, 'These were cloned websites designed to siphon donations. Devotees thought that they were contributing to the temple but were transferring money to private accounts instead…' Whereas Pandharpur has seen multiple cases of fraud. In January, a self-styled priest was booked for charging ₹11,000 from devotees for easy darshan of Lord Vitthal. In March, seven devotees were conned into buying fake darshan passes; the authorities found them to be fake while scanning. Similar such incidents prompted the Solapur district administration to ban VIP darshan during this year's Ashadhi Wari. Solapur district collector Kumar Ashirwad said that the ban on VIP darshan is part of a broader effort to ensure fairness and maintain order. 'This year, we declared a no-vehicle zone from Chauphala to the Vitthal temple. Golf carts were provided for senior citizens, but VIP darshan has been completely banned. Violations will invite action under the Disaster Management Act,' he said. The ban came after reports that private agents were charging astronomical fees from all manner of devotees for 'VIP access', creating a law-and-order risk. In Tuljapur, a similar situation unfolded at the Tuljabhavani temple with VIP passes being misused. The passes, issued by trustees, were being resold by agents for a profit. So much so that in May this year, the Dharashiv district administration scrapped the VIP pass system and introduced a ₹200 online pass issued directly by the temple trust. While the aforementioned cases are separate, the common thread tying them together is the use of digital manipulation, emotional exploitation, and gaps in oversight. In almost all cases, devotees were contacted through WhatsApp groups, social media, and fraudulent websites—channels that are difficult to regulate in real time. For many devotees who had saved for months and travelled long distances, these experiences were not just financial setbacks but also the cause of great emotional distress. Instead of blessings, they were left with a sense of betrayal. Temple trusts and local authorities have since issued advisories urging devotees to use only official websites or government-authorised platforms for bookings and donations. Devotees have been warned against scanning QR codes from messages or social media posts. Overall, these incidents have triggered calls for stronger verification systems, improved transparency, and tighter digital security across religious institutions. With the holy Hindu month of Shravan having just begun, there is now a crying need to ensure that the faithful are not targeted in the name of devotion.
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Time of India
600 personnel to be deployed at Trimbakeshwar on first Shravan Somvar
Nashik: Around 600 personnel, comprising rural police, traffic staff, and home guards, will be stationed in Trimbakeshwar on Monday, the first 'Shravan Somvar', to maintain crowd control and ensure a safe environment. Trimbakeshwar temple, situated 28km from Nashik city, is one of India's 12 revered Jyotirlinga temples. While devotees flock to the temple year-round, the holy month of Shravan sees a significant surge, especially on Mondays (Somvar). This year, the first Shravan Somvar falls on July 28, followed by three more on August 4, 11 and 18. Devotees have already started pouring in, given the Shravan month began on July 11 in north India. However, the Shravan Somvars are expected to draw massive crowds from Nashik, the district, and beyond. Inspector Mahesh Kulkarni of the Trimbakeshwar police said, "We'll deploy around 600 personnel from Sunday afternoon to manage the crowds in Trimbakeshwar, considering the huge rush expected. Devotees not only visit the Trimbakeshwar temple but also circumambulate Brahmagiri, which can be a challenge. We'll be prepared to ensure a smooth experience for all." Police will be deployed on both routes to avert any untoward incident. Most of the devotees start the walk around the Brahmagiri mountain on Sunday evening, and after completing the detour, they take darshan in the morning before resuming their return journey. "The police presence will be higher on the third Shravan Somvar on Aug 11," the officer said. The Trimbakeshwar temple trust will also be deploying their security guards on the temple premises.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
Five arrested for bulk booking of online passes for Trimbakeshwar darshan and selling them at high rates
Nashik: Five people were arrested by Trimbakeshwar police for allegedly booking online paid darshan passes for Trimbakeshwar temple in large quantities and then selling them at exorbitant rates to pilgrims visiting the twelve jyotirlingas. Inspector Mahesh Kulkarni said an FIR was registered with the police on Thursday regarding some people purchasing Rs 200 denomination passes issued by Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust in bulk and then selling them to the pilgrims at exorbitant rates. "An FIR was registered with the police regarding the sale of such online passes to the pilgrims at very high rates. The police investigated the matter and found that there were five people staying in and around Trimbakeshwar involved in the act and arrested them late Thursday night," said Kulkarni. The paid darshan passes are issued across the counter as well as through the online process. The officer said that the police tracked the tickets, mobile numbers, and email IDs that revealed the purchase of the darshan passes in bulk by a group of five people using fake names and Aadhaar numbers. "The passes carry the names of pass holders. These are verified by the QR scanner at the entrance. The sellers of these passes inform the pilgrims the names they need to tell the security persons at the gates, if they are asked," the officer said. Police have filed charges under Sections 318 (4), 112, and 336 (3) of BNS against the accused who sold them for Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 each. Police claimed that five people sold at least 1,648 passes and pocketed the proceeds without sharing them with the trust. The five arrested are Dileep Jhole and Sudam Badade, both residents of Pegalwadi, Samadhan Chothe and Manohar Shevare, both from Rokadwadi, and Shivraj Aher, residing near Niranjani Akhada -- all in and around Trimbakeshwar town.
Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Sahyadri Hospital Trust denies land, building ownership transfer in reply to PMC
The Sahyadri Hospital at Deccan Gymkhana on Thursday submitted a detailed response to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), clarifying that there has been no transfer of ownership of the land or building to any private entity, including Manipal Hospitals or Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. According to the reply, the 1,976 square metre plot on which the hospital stands was leased by PMC to the Konkan Mitra Mandal Medical Trust in 1998. (HT) The hospital's reply to PMC assistant health officer comes after a show-cause notice issued on July 16, following a complaint filed by advocate Sushrut Kamble. The notice had raised concerns about land ownership, hospital operations, and compliance with civic agreements. According to the reply, the 1,976 square metre plot on which the hospital stands was leased by PMC to the Konkan Mitra Mandal Medical Trust in 1998. The trust continues to own the hospital building, while the land remains civic property. 'At no point was the ownership of either the land or the hospital building transferred to Everstone Capital, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, or Manipal Hospitals,' the reply stated. In its submission, the trust reiterated that Sahyadri Hospital operates under a valid nursing home licence issued in its name since 2004, with approvals for all infrastructure and management changes granted by PMC. The current licence is valid till March 31, 2027, and the hospital has submitted the latest 2025–26 property tax receipt. The hospital denied allegations of transfer of ownership or management rights to Manipal Hospitals or any other private party. 'The Konkan Mitra Mandal Trust continues to manage the hospital,' it said. PMC's concerns were triggered after Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP), which had acquired a controlling stake in Sahyadri Hospitals from Everstone Capital in 2022, sold the chain to Temasek-backed Manipal Hospitals in a deal valued at around ₹6,400 crore. Responding to questions about compliance with the PMC lease agreement, the hospital stated that it remains committed to providing free treatment under the mandated scheme. 'The trust is required to provide 50 free bed-days per year but has provided an average of 166 free bed-days annually over the past three years for PMC-referred patients,' said Mahesh Kulkarni, general secretary and treasurer, Konkan Mitra Mandal Medical Trust. Dr Suryakant Devkar, assistant health chief, PMC, said, 'The health department's scope is limited to nursing home registration, the free bed scheme, and related matters. The hospital has submitted all relevant documents—including the lease agreement, tax receipts, licence copy, past notices, and treatment records—to support its claims. The trust has assured full cooperation.' Timeline 2019: Everstone Capital acquires Sahyadri Hospitals from founder Dr Charudutt Apte for approximately ₹1,000 crore. 2022: Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) buys Sahyadri from Everstone for around ₹2,500 crore. 2025: OTPP sells Sahyadri Hospitals to Manipal Hospitals in a deal estimated at ₹6,400 crore.
