Ramtirath Temple mahants trade charges over control

A controversy erupted when Mahant Gurpreet Giri of Sri Ramtirath Temple alleged in a press conference here today that there have been ‘irregularities’ in maintaining the sanctity of the shrine by its current management headed by his brother Mahant Manjit Giri.

He alleged that despite the fact that an Ajnala court has deputed the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) as receiver of the shrine for this purpose, the irregularities continued. Mahant Gurpreet Giri along with his lawyer Ravi Mahajan also alleged misappropriation of donations by Mahant Manjit Giri. They urged that the administration should ensure maintenance of sanctity of the shrine besides holding an inquiry into the bungling of donations given by the devotees.

Mahajan said that the court deputed the SDM as receiver in May this year, but the irregularities in maintaining the sanctity of the temple continued unabated.

Mahant Manjit Giri, however, denied the allegations and said that he had submitted all the bank statements besides expenditure details in court and claimed that there was no misappropriation as was being alleged. He said the shrine is being maintained by an 11-member committee.