VIP darshan fraud exposed at Trimbakeshwar temple, trustee held

A trustee of the Trimbakeshwar Temple, one of India’s 12 revered Jyotirlingas has been arrested in connection with an alleged VIP darshan fraud that exploited devotees seeking quicker access to the shrine.

According to police, Purushottam Kadlag , a trustee of the Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust, was taken into custody in the early hours of Tuesday following evidence gathered during an ongoing investigation. He has been remanded to police custody until April 20 . Authorities have already arrested two individuals and indicated that more arrests are likely as the probe expands.

The case came to light after two devotees from Nashik reported being cheated on April 11. Despite holding valid ₹200 darshan passes , they were allegedly persuaded by agents near the temple to pay ₹3,000 each for a “VIP darshan” promising faster entry within minutes. While the accused facilitated their entry, no official receipts were issued , raising suspicion of an organised racket.

Police investigations revealed that agents regularly approached devotees , especially those eager to avoid long queues, and convinced them to pay extra money under the guise of expedited darshan. These transactions were conducted unofficially, bypassing temple regulations and generating substantial illegal earnings through individual and group bookings.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita against Gotiram Manaji Peher (41) , who has been arrested, and Abhishek Kadlag , the trustee’s nephew, who remains absconding. Investigators say the trustee’s alleged involvement surfaced during questioning of the accused.

The incident has raised concerns over misuse of authority and exploitation of religious sentiments at one of the country’s most significant pilgrimage sites, prompting calls for stricter oversight of temple administration and darshan systems.