Economic Fraud
ED Raids Uncover Fraud in Kamakhya Temple Charity Fund Diversion
GUWAHATI: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Guwahati Zonal Office, has uncovered a financial fraud involving the now-defunct Kamakhya Debutter Board, which was formerly responsible for managing the Kamakhya Temple.
Investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, revealed that approximately Rs 7.62 crore was misappropriated by board officials between 2003 and 2019.
The probe was initiated based on an FIR registered by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Guwahati, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860. According to the ED, the ex-officials of the Kamakhya Debutter Board allegedly misused temple funds by engaging shell entities for procuring materials like electrical goods, cement, cleaning chemicals, and manpower.
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To circumvent court directives that required approval from the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup for expenses exceeding Rs 50,000, the officials reportedly split larger bills into smaller amounts to evade scrutiny.
Search operations conducted by the ED at the residences of late Riju Prasad Sarma, former administrator of the board, as well as Dhiraj Sarma and Naba Kanta Sarma, led to the seizure of insurance policies worth Rs 1.82 crore, taken in the names of the officials and their family members. Documents related to immovable properties and business entities were also confiscated.
The investigation further revealed the existence of over 27 bank accounts linked to individuals associated with the case. The ED’s findings highlight significant financial irregularities and the misuse of funds intended for temple management.
