Lucknow: Even as an investigation gets underway into alleged financial irregularities at Ayodhya’s Ram temple, allegations have surfaced over the handling of donations at the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura. Dinesh ‘Phalahari’ Maharaj, a petitioner associated with the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi movement, has accused the temple management of financial irregularities and sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the temple’s donation and revenue system.
If this new controversy wasn’t enough of a shocker, Dinesh Maharaj used his own blood in a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, alleging that donations made by devotees in Mathura are not being properly accounted for, and called for a thorough investigation into the functioning of the temple administration.
According to Dinesh Maharaj, surveillance cameras are switched off whenever temple donation boxes and collection vaults are opened. He claimed that such practices raise serious concerns about transparency and create the possibility of misappropriation of offerings made by devotees.
Dinesh ‘Phalahari’ Maharaj further alleged that certain individuals associated with the temple administration have amassed substantial wealth over the years. He claimed that some employees who once lived modest lifestyles and got around on scooters now own luxury houses and expensive vehicles. These allegations have not been independently verified.
Drawing parallels with the controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Dinesh Maharaj has claimed that the accounting of gold and silver ornaments donated by devotees at the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple is also not being done properly. He alleged that there is inadequate transparency regarding valuable offerings received by the temple.
He further accused the management of large-scale commission practices in arrangements such as ‘Chhappan Bhog’, the traditional offering of 56 sacred vegetarian delicacies to Lord Krishna. According to him, commissions of up to 70 per cent are allegedly being charged in these activities. The saint also demanded an investigation into the movable and immovable assets of temple officials and employees.
Speaking to ThePrint, Dinesh Maharaj claimed that several individuals associated with the temple administration have acquired significant properties in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the years. He urged the state government to examine the source of their income and determine whether the assets are proportionate to their known earnings.
“’Several office-bearers associated with the temple management have properties worth crores of rupees in locations ranging from Nainital to Delhi. While public attention has largely focused on the Ayodhya donation controversy, similar questions should also be raised regarding the management of donations at the Mathura temple,” he said.
He appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take strict action and order a comprehensive investigation into the matter. “No one involved in corruption can escape under Yogi ji’s administration. I request him to examine these allegations seriously,” he said.
Dinesh Maharaj also warned that if a CBI investigation is not ordered, he would approach the high court and file a fresh petition for judicial intervention in the matter. Alleging that followers of individuals linked to the temple administration have been issuing threats to him, the saint said he would soon write to the chief minister and seek protection.
The Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple management has not issued any official response to the allegations so far. ThePrint tried to get to the temple trust office but calls weren’t answered. The claims remain unverified, and no government official has publicly confirmed any irregularities in the temple’s financial management.
Who is Dinesh ‘Phalahari’ Maharaj?
Dinesh ‘Phalahari’ Maharaj is a standout figure in the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi movement. He claims that he has not consumed grain-based food for four years as part of a religious vow linked to the cause of freeing the Krishna Janmabhoomi site. According to him, he survives only on fruits (Phalahar), which is the basis for his name.
Last year, Dinesh Maharaj attracted attention for a letter he wrote during a religious yatra led by Dhirendra Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba. In the letter, he urged Shastri to impose a complete ban on the participation of Muslims in the yatra and other Sanatan religious processions. This year, he asked the chief minister to ban Muslims from selling colours in the runup to Holi.
The allegations have added a new angle to the ongoing debate over transparency and accountability in the management of donations received at major religious institutions in Uttar Pradesh. In the Ayodhya temple row, the state government has constituted a three-member team to investigate the donation issue.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
Also Read: Ram Temple donation ‘fraud’: Vinay Katiyar hints at possible role of trustees—‘sab chor hain’