Following the High Court verdict in favour of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Mumbai, Varadakrishna Das, president of the Mumbai ISKCON in Bangalore, filed a petition with Home Minister R. Ashok apprehending funnelling off of jewellery and other valuables from the temple here.
The Karnataka High Court, on Monday, ruled that ISKCON, Bangalore, had falsely claimed properties of ISKCON, Mumbai, and that the former is not an independent autonomous body.
Stay sought
Speaking toThe Hindu, Mr. Varadakrishna Das said that the Bangalore branch has sought a stay on the High Court order. “We fear that Madhu Pandit Das, president of ISKCON, Bangalore, his family members and associates may try to siphon off jewels and other precious items worth crores from the temple,” he said.
Over the past 12 years, devotees from across the world have donated crores of rupees by way of gifts to the temple, Mr. Varadakrishna Das said his petition on Monday evening and urged the Home Minister to provide protection at the temple. “This is a sensitive matter. We have urged him to ensure that nothing is removed from the temple compound,” he said.
He said that Mr. Ashok had directed the jurisdictional Deputy Commissioner of Police and Assistant Commissioner of Police for a 24-hour vigil at the temple and make an inventory of all the jewellery and valuables at the temple.
‘Appoint administrator'
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| MLA D.K. Shivakumar |
Kanakapura MLA D.K. Shivakumar welcomed the court verdict and urged the Government to take over the temple and appoint a senior IAS officer as its administrator.
