Nashik Police Crack Down on Trimbakeshwar Temple Quick Darshan Scam
In a significant development, the Nashik rural police have intensified their investigation into an alleged paid quick darshan scam at the revered Trimbakeshwar temple. On Tuesday night, authorities arrested two nephews of a temple trustee, just one day after the trustee himself was taken into custody.
Arrests and Court Proceedings
The accused individuals have been identified as Abhishek Kadlag and his brother, Om Kadlag. According to Inspector Mahesh Kulkarni of the Trimbakeshwar police station, the two brothers were apprehended on Tuesday evening. Following their arrest, they were promptly produced before a local court, which subsequently remanded them in police custody until April 18.
This action comes on the heels of the earlier arrest of Purushottam Kadlag, a trustee of the Trimbakeshwar temple trust, who was taken into custody early Tuesday morning. A cheating case has been officially registered against four individuals: Purushottam Kadlag, his two nephews Abhishek and Om Kadlag, and another man named Gotiram Pehre.
Modus Operandi of the Scam
Police investigations have revealed a systematic operation targeting devotees. The scam allegedly worked through a network of agents who would approach pilgrims waiting in the lengthy temple queues. These agents would negotiate a fee with devotees, promising them expedited access to the deity.
"Once the agents secured an agreement, they would contact Abhishek and Om Kadlag," explained Inspector Kulkarni. "The darshan was then facilitated through their uncle, Purushottam Kadlag, for amounts ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000, and sometimes even more."
Scale of the Operation and Impact
Authorities suspect this illicit activity was conducted on a substantial scale, potentially generating massive profits for the accused over an extended period. The police have emphasized that this scheme represented a grave injustice to the countless devotees who patiently endure long waiting times for their turn at darshan.
Trimbakeshwar temple, recognized as one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas in India, attracts a continuous stream of pilgrims throughout the year. Devotees traveling from distant locations often face queue times of two to three hours or more, even after obtaining the legally sanctioned Rs 200 donation passes offered by the temple trust. Those without these passes confront even longer waiting periods.
The police investigation continues as they work to uncover the full extent of this operation and ensure that all involved parties are brought to justice, restoring fairness to the devotional practices at this important religious site.
