Puri: In a major crackdown, Puri Cyber police arrested a person involved in the online sale of Mahaprasad, the sacred offering of Puri Jagannath temple, through an online platform.
The accused, Dispoza Pattnaik, a real estate businessman from Bhubaneswar, was arrested for allegedly running a website named shreeprasad.org that offered Mahaprasad for online sale, using images of the temple and its offerings to mislead devotees. He claimed on his website that devotees could buy Mahaprasad, sourced directly from the Srimandir Rosaghara in Puri, and have it delivered to their doorstep.
The matter came to the fore after Hemant Kumar Padhi, OSD Security of Shree Jagannath Temple, reported about the website.
The website, which used phone number 9658824596, sparked concerns about the authenticity and sanctity of the Mahaprasad being sold online.
He had filed a complaint with the cyber police station, stating that the website’s activities were damaging the temple’s image and hurting devotees’ religious sentiments. The police investigation revealed that the mobile phone number used for online bookings belonged to Dispoza Pattnaik, who was subsequently arrested from Bhubaneswar.
Puri SP Prateek Singh warned that strict action would be taken against anyone found involved in the unauthorized online sale of Mahaprasad, emphasizing the importance of preserving the sanctity of the temple’s offerings.
SP Prateek Singh stated, “A complaint was registered with Cyber Police on October 22 regarding the unauthorised online sale of Mahaprasad. Our investigation revealed that Dispoza Pattnaik, a Bhubaneswar-based real estate businessman, was behind the website. He has confessed to creating the website with his brother-in-law’s help, intending to sell Mahaprasad online. We will take action against anyone found involved in this illegal activity.”
