Peon Caught Stealing Donation Money from Puri Jagannath Temple Hundi

Puri: A peon employed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri was apprehended for allegedly pilfering donation funds from a temple Hundi (donation box). The incident, captured on CCTV footage, revealed the misappropriation of approximately Rs 35,000 in cash. Prompt action was taken by the temple administration, resulting in the suspension of the accused staff member.

Reports indicate that the employee, entrusted with counting donation money for a week, stole the cash during the process. However, it remains unclear if similar thefts occurred on other days of his duty.

This occurrence has shed light on broader issues within the temple administration, including the lack of permanent staff deployed for money counting and transparency issues in financial procedures. Senior servitors have raised concerns about recurring irregularities in deity rituals, security lapses, fraudulent job certifications, and instances of theft from donation boxes over the years.