Ganeshpuri Temple Trust Scam: Bail Denied to Two in ₹98 Lakh Misappropriation Case, Says Bhiwandi Court | Representational Image
Thane: The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Bhiwandi has rejected the bail applications of two individuals accused of criminal breach of trust and cheating in connection with the alleged misappropriation of over Rs 98 lakh from the Dindeshwar Mahadev Temple Trust in Ganeshpuri.
JMFC P.M. Kolse while dismissing the bail pleas of accused Vinayak Gauru Vakhare and Dnyaneshwar Balaram Bhoir maintained that the case involved public money and serious economic offences, thus releasing the accused at this stage could risk obstruction of justice.
The accused were booked under Sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
The case stems from a complaint lodged by a devotee, Maruti Pandharinath Patil, who alleged that a large amount of public donations to the temple trust were misused. The FIR was registered following a court-directed investigation, after the complainant approached the court claiming that police initially failed to act on his complaint.
During the hearing, the advocate for the accused argued that the allegations were based on assumptions and hearsay, citing that the complainant had received the information from a trustee.
However, the prosecution along with complainants advocate Sujata Jadhav opposed the bail plea, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing nature of the investigation. The Assistant Public Prosecutor submitted that the accused were yet to be interrogated regarding the recovery of Rs 98.5 lakh and that their release could hamper the investigation or lead to tampering with evidence.
The court, in its order, observed that affidavits filed by other trust members suggested that some decisions regarding temple trust funds were taken without following due procedures. While the defense claimed these actions were in the trust’s best interest, the court held that such claims raised serious questions about transparency and governance within the trust.
“The offence is serious in nature and the investigation is in progress. If the accused are released on bail, there is a possibility of tampering with the prosecution evidence and absconding,” the court stated in its order, ultimately rejecting the bail application.
