MP clerk booked for swindling Orchha temple donations;adultery

A Madhya Pradesh government clerk was today booked for allegedly syphoning off donations worth crores offered by devotees to famous Ram Raja aka Orchha temple in the district over a period of time, an official said.
Munnalal Tiwari, posted at the 4th century temple since 1997, was also charged with "committing adultery" with women devotees visiting the temple, located some 82 kms away from here.
The adultery charge was included in the FIR against the clerk after husbands of some women devotees complained to the district officials, the official said.
"District administration clerk Munnalal Tiwari who is working with the famous Orchha temple has been booked for syphoning off huge donations running into crores and committing adultery with women devotees," Jatara area Sub- Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Aditya Singh told PTI.

He said the district administration lodged the FIR after conducting an inquiry into the complaints received by them in this regard.
"We will simultaneously ask the Lokayukta Police to conduct a probe to find out the exact quantum of donations allegedly swindled by the clerk," Singh said.

The SDM said Tiwari had been posted at the temple since 1997 and that he had been committing the alleged acts since 2001.
"Tiwari was supposed to maintain accounts of donations, including cash and gold and silver ornaments, being received by the temple. Some of the ornaments offered to the presiding deity by devotees are studded with diamonds," the officer said.

The probe revealed the cashbook of donations has not been maintained properly since 2001.
"The accused has been booked under sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 425(mischief), 426 (punishment for mischief), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 497 (adultery) of the IPC," the SDM added.
He said the Orchha Police was trying to trace Tiwari.
The devotees visiting the famous shrine comprise high- profile politicians, top businessmen, bureaucrats and tourists.
The temple, maintained and run by the district authorities, is visited by around 6,50,000 domestic and around 25,000 foreign tourists annually.

The shrine is said to be unique in the country because Lord Ram had worshiped here as a king in a palace.