Kurnool: 1.42 crore funds has come to fore at the sacred temple Srisailam Sri Bhramarambika Mallikarjuna Swamy

Kurnool: Misappropriation of Rs 1.42 crore funds has come to fore at the sacred temple Sri Bhramarambika Mallikarjuna Swamy, Srisailam, here on Monday.

Though the misappropriation of funds is taking place since 2017, it was unearthed some time ago with the employees of temple and contractual employees engaged by the banks, complained on each other with the Temple Executive Officer (EO) K S Rama Rao.

Speaking to The Hans India on Monday, Temple Executive Officer K S Rama Rao said that two banks have engaged 14 persons for taking the responsibility of cash transactions pertaining to the temple.

On finding huge cash transactions, some bank employees have planned to misappropriate the funds and consulted a computer expert and installed a software to divert funds on regular intervals during heavy turnouts and other occasions.

The officials have been diverting the funds since 2017 and till date, they siphoned off Rs 1.42 crores, stated the EO.

He said this discrepancy was identified while verifying the fund records. After going into detail, the entire episode has come to fore, he stated.

A complaint on the 14 contractual employees was lodged with the police, the EO said and added the police was probing the issue. He added the issue was also taken to the notice of the state government for initiating appropriate action on the persons responsible for misappropriating the temple funds.

The accused would be taken into custody soon, added KS Rama Rao.

The EO said the temple was getting large number of applications for Parokshna Seva and the devotees can view through online. We are expecting huge turnouts after the situation come to normalcy, Rama Rao said.