Bhubaneswar: Allegations of cheating have emerged at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri after a devotee was allegedly issued a fake receipt for placing a ritual flag (Bana) atop the Neelachakra.
According to reports, the incident came to light on Thursday when a devotee from Hyderabad, identified as Bijendra Kedia, visited the temple office along with a servitor and produced a receipt claiming permission for his Bana to be hoisted on the Neelachakra.
Upon verification, temple officials discovered that the receipt was not issued by the office of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and was fake. The devotee had reportedly paid around Rs 5,600 to a person named Ranjit Kar for this service.
Acting on the complaint, the Chief Administrator has issued a notice to the concerned servitor asking him to submit a reply within three days. A complaint has also been lodged at the Singhadwar police station regarding the forgery.
It may be noted that the flag placed on the Neelachakra is selected strictly through a lottery system, and only the name drawn in the draw gets the opportunity for this sacred ritual.
