Reveal donation details, Maharashtra tells trust

The government on Tuesday directed the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust to submit statistical data on disbursal of donations and charity.

The trust over the years had been making demands to increase the 30% cap fixed on the funds that it can spend for donations and charity to 50%. 

“We have asked the temple trust to submit the statistical data on disbursal of donations for social cause before relaxing the norms,” said law and judiciary minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.   

The decision came after a meeting of the trust with the minister.

“We had a discussion on it today. The minister was kind to agree to it. He agreed that the money from devotees should reach the devotees for their medical facilities. Principally, they have agreed and they now want the data to increase the cap,” said Nitin Vishnu Kadam, a trustee.

According to trust officials, the money is largely spent on treatment of people suffering from cancer and in KEM Hospital. “More people need benefits, so we approached the government,” added Kadam.

The trust is allowed to spend only 30% its disposable income annually on charity and donation which comes to approximately Rs7 crore.  

“All this is people’s money and it should go back to them in maximum,” said Subhash Mayekar, chairman of the trust. The 30% limit was set through a high court interim order after city activist late Keval Semlani filed a PIL against the committee for misappropriation of donation money.