A shocking fraud has come to light at the Puri Shrimandir, where a temple servitor allegedly swindled a devotee under the guise of the sacred flag-hoisting ritual (Bana Lagi). A devotee from Hyderabad, seeking to offer the service, was issued a fake receipt by the servitor in exchange for a significant sum.
The scam was uncovered when temple supervisors inspected the document and flagged it as a forgery.
Taking swift action, the Shrimandir administration has issued a show-cause notice to the accused servitor, demanding a response within three days.
Furthermore, a formal FIR has been lodged at the Shrimandir police station to investigate the depth of this racket.
This incident has sparked concerns over the exploitation of non-Odia pilgrims, prompting the administration to tighten monitoring to protect the sanctity of the temple’s traditions and the trust of its devotees.