ED raids houses of former Kamakhya temple management officials over Rs 7.62 crore 'scam'

Guwahati: The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at the residences of three former top officials of the management committee of the historic Kamakhya temple in Guwahati in connection with an alleged scam worth Rs 7.62 crore committed during 2003 and 2019.

The ED said insurance policies worth Rs 1.82 crore were seized during the searches conducted on Wednesday at the residences of Riju Prasad Sarma, the then administrator Kamakhya Debutter Board, Dhiraj Sarma and Naba Kanta Sarma (both deceased), the then officials of the board. The policies procured in the name of the former officials and their family members are suspected to be proceeds of crimes related to the temple's money.

The ED initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by CID, Assam for alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs. 7.62 crore against officials of the Kamakhya Debutter Board. The case alleged transfer of funds to related entities and routing of the same to entities owned by the officials for their personal gains. "In order to siphon funds of Maa Kamakhya temple, these ex officials hired related and shell entities for supply of materials like electrical goods, cements, cleaning chemicals, manpower and other services. The funds were then transferred to entities owned by the officials or taken out in cash," ED said in a statement on Thursday.

Kamakhya, one of the revered ancient shrines, attracts a large number of devotees daily, who donate money to the temple trust.

The ED said officials mischievously resorted to splitting of bills to keep value under Rs 50,000 so as to be compliant of court direction forbidding expense of larger amounts without permission of the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup. "Further, documents related to immovable properties and business entities of officials of Kamakhya Debutter Board and their family members have been seized. Besides, more than 27 bank accounts of various related persons have surfaced during searches."