Varanasi, 28th August 2022:There is a possibility of a large-scale mismatch in the number of offerings coming from money orders in Kashi Vishwanath temple. Following the embezzlement of Rs 1.50 lakh coming to the fore in the investigation of money orders of two years, the temple administration will now investigate the money orders of the last 10 years. Officials suspect that the investigation may uncover the misappropriation of lakhs.
The temple administration checked the money orders from March 2021 to June 2022. During this period, an amount of Rs 4.16 lakh arrived in the name of the chief executive of the temple and Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. But only Rs 2.66 lakh was deposited in the temple fund.
Shivbhushan Dwivedi, the computer assistant of the temple, embezzled Rs 1.49 lakh. There was a stir as soon as this information came to light. On the instructions of the higher officials, the temple administration filed a case of cheating and misappropriation against the computer assistant at the Chowk police station on August 3. After this, the files of previous years’ money orders were scrutinized. The temple administration has started preparations to get the money order checked for 10 years. For this, the officers of the Accounts Department will be engaged.
Questions are also being raised on the role of two other employees of the temple office in the money order scam. The temple administration believes that this work cannot be done through one person. Other people may also be involved in this. The matter will become clear after investigation.
Computer assistant Shashibhushan Dwivedi, who embezzled in temple offerings, has been suspended by the temple administration but is still out of the grip of the police.
Vishwanath Temple CEO Dr Sunil Kumar Verma said that further investigation is being done into the mingling in the offerings of the temple. It is the duty of the police to arrest the employee.