The State government today seemed to have washed its hands of over the issue of parking Puri Srimandir funds in crisis-hit Yes Bank by saying that it was the temple administration which had deposited the amount as it the sole authority for management of affairs of the shrine.
Replying to a query over the issue during a discussion in the State Assembly, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said the funds of Jagannath Temple in Puri is regulated by the managing committee of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and State government has nothing to do with it.
The temple funds were deposited in the bank because of the higher interest rate offered by Yes Bank. The managing committee selected the bank through a tender process and a proposal was also moved in this regard. As many as 12 banks gave quotations and Yes Bank was selected among them as it offered the highest interest i.e. 8.61 per cent per annum. Therefore, the amount was fixed in the bank for a year, informed the Finance Minister.
It wasn't Odisha govt but Srimandir administration which had parked Lord Jagannath's funds in Yes Bank. SJTA had invited quotation from scheduled commercial banks & out of 12 banks, YesBank quoted maximum interest rate of 8.61% on deposits: State Finance Min Niranjan Pujari
On the other hand, BJP Chief Whip Mohan Majhi targeted State Government for its alleged inaction over the issue and accused it of playing with the sentiments of the devotees of Lord Jagannath. Majhi has compared the issue with the mega-crore chit fund scam in the State.
Majhi also alleged that chartered accountant Bijay Sahoo and ex-SJTA administrator Pradeepta Mohapatra toured Europe with the commission money they got for parking the deposits in Yes Bank and when Madhav Mohapatra, a member of the temple managing finance sub-committee raised his voice against the act, he was removed from the committee.
Srimandir funds in YesBank: Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi alleges that CA Bijay Sahoo & ex-SJTA administrator Pradeepta Mohapatra toured Europe with commission money from deposits & when a temple managing finance subcommittee member raised voice, they removed him
Majhi raised the State government’s motive behind the elevation of Sahoo to rank of Minister of State with the appointment as an advisor to the Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan.
However, Bijay Sahoo is yet to comment on Majhi’s allegations.
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