As the chief Pramod Muthalik, the Chief of Sri Rama Sene, once more has raised alarm against the alleged massive financial irregularities and administrative misconduct at the Shirdi Sai Temple in Hubballi. Muthalik is lashing out at local administrators over their failure to act after making a stand, and sent a "final warning" to the District Collector (DC), urging him to call for "a massive protest" unless high-level investigations have been promptly initiated there quickly enough.
Allegations of Cover-ups and "Arrogance"
Muthalik also said that even though he submitted his formal memorandum to the DC and raised the issue to national government officials for support two months ago, no action has been taken. He said the temple management is acting "arrogantly" because they feel untouchable. “The temple administration is mocking our efforts, asking you what you got by submitting memoranda. They are preoccupied with hiding evidence and tampering with records. We are not going to sit by while greed sullies the sanctity of the temple," he said.
The 10-Point Evidence List
In fact, during a meeting with the DR, there were some discrepancies uncovered, the Sri Rama Sene chief noted. He said he had filed a 10-point document supported by evidence that he had said:
- Hundi Collections: Mismanagement and lack of transparency in tallying donation box (Hundi) funds.
- Audit Fraud: This type of fraud involves systematically altering audit reports to cover up revenue leaks.
- Administrative Immorality: Allegations of unethical conduct in the temple premises.
Muthalik singled out DR officials, accusing them of “playing games” (i.e., actively resisting investigation) and delaying investigation by deliberately delaying it. He wondered to what extent authorities were putting the suspects on the cover-up when fraud was clearly evident.
ಇಂದು ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿ ಯ ಸಾಯಿ ಮಂದಿರಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅವ್ಯವ ಹಾರ ತಡೆದು ತಪ್ಪಿದಸ್ತರ ಮೇಲೆ ಕಾನೂನು ಕ್ರಮ ತೆಗೆದು ಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕೆಂದು ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾ ಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಮನವಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲಾಯಿತು
— Pramod Mutalik Official (@PramodMuta39880) January 16, 2026
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The Demand for a Judicial Inquiry
Muthalik has made a clear message to the state government:
- Appoint a retired judge who can conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the temple’s affairs.
- Ensure that former and present office-holders are brought to account: "Wrongdoing is a crime regardless of who committed it."
- Immediate suspension of officials impeding the probe.
Final Warning: Protests on the Horizon
Muthalik also issued a final warning closing his statement: The time for dialogue is over. If the administration does not act soon, Sri Rama Sene will open a dharna (sit-in protest) in front of the Temple entrance and District Registrar’s office. “At your front door, we will show you precisely what is happening inside the temple. If it is the ones we have to investigate who protect the corrupt, we are going to take this fight on the streets,” he warned.
