Pune: A major financial scam has come to light at the famous Shani Shingnapur temple, involving illegal collection of crores of rupees under the pretext of donations, rituals, and offerings.
Police investigations revealed that two temple employees received illicit funds directly into their bank accounts.
The five mobile apps and websites were allegedly collecting online payments from devotees for donations, poojas, oil offerings, and other rituals without official permission of the temple trust.
“The money collected through these unauthorized platforms was systematically deposited in small amounts into the accounts of the two employees,” said police.
It is estimated that over Rs 1 crore was funneled into the bank accounts of the accused individuals. The police are currently conducting a thorough investigation to identify the mastermind behind the scam, track the money trail, and determine whether the funds were further transferred to other accounts or handed over in cash.
While the names of the employees have not been disclosed, a case has also been registered against the company operating the apps and websites used in the scam.
