Bhubaneswar: In a firm crackdown on irregularities inside the Shree Jagannath Temple premises, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has suspended Chhatar Sevak Ranjit Kar on charges of issuing fake receipts to a devotee for placing a ritual flag (Bana) atop the Neelachakra.
According to the suspension order issued today, Ranjit Kar had brought Hyderabad-based devotee Bijendra Kedia to the Srimandir temple office and shown him a forged receipt claiming that permission for his Bana to be hoisted on the Neelachakra.
Upon verification, it came to the fore that the receipt was not issued by the office of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and was fake. The devotee had reportedly paid around Rs 5,600 to Kar for this service.
During the probe, Kar reportedly admitted before the temple supervisor that he had given the fake receipt. The temple administration subsequently issued a show-cause notice seeking an explanation from Kar. Since his reply was found unsatisfactory, he has been placed under suspension with immediate effect. The order states that the suspension will remain in force for six months from today.
The temple administration has made it clear that if Kar is found trying to bribe, lure or intimidate any other sevak during this period, the suspension term will be extended and more severe disciplinary action will be taken against him.
