Mahudi Jain Temple Trust has removed two trustees alleged to have committed fraud. The Trust convened an emergency meeting amid the rising controversy regarding allegations of misappropriation of gold belonging to the temple. The trust also decided to remove ten other trustees for ten years.
Located around 38 kilometers north of Gandhinagar, the Mahudi Ghantakarna Mahavir Jinalaya is one of the most revered places of worship for adepts of Jainism. A very popular pilgrimage center among Jains and non-Jains, the Mahudi temple is considered to possess miraculous powers.
The 100-year-old trust with four families was created under the guidance of Jain Saint Shrimad Buddhisagar Surishwarji Maharaj. The Mahudi temple has a total of eight trustees, including two from the Vora family, two from the Shah family, and four from the Mehta family.
Over the years animosity among the different family groups of trustees in on the rise. In recent months, the groups have not hesitated public with serious allegations of fraud and misappropriation of money and jewelry belonging to the temple.
A few months ago, the Nilesh Mehta family, one of the constituents of the trust, accused Bhupendra Vora and Kamalesh Mehta, other trustees, of defrauding the trust by taking away 140 kg of gold. They were also accused of indulging in illegally laundering black money of Rs. 14 crore during demonetization by taking 20% commission.
Ankit Mehta, another trustee of the Mahudi temple has alleged that Bhupendra Vora and Kamlesh Mehta have even altered the Stock Registers of the temple. The accusing trustees have filed a complaint with the office of the Joint Charity Commissioner.
Earlier, In February 2023, two trustees, Nilesh Mehta and Sunil Mehta, were accused of siphoning gold bars and gold plating at the temple.
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