07/07/2025
🚨| The Sri Sri Kalibari Committee in Dibrugarh has filed an FIR against its former secretary, Gopal Nandi, over alleged financial mismanagement and serious anomalies during his 18-year tenure.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, current secretary Mainak Patra revealed that Nandi had custody of two golden crowns used during Kali Puja—one weighing approximately 16 tolas and another around 10 tolas. “During the formal handover on January 7, 2025, Nandi admitted the larger crown was missing,” Patra stated. Nandi reportedly gave a written undertaking to compensate for the loss by paying Rs 24,37,500.
Patra also alleged that Nandi failed to submit cash collection details and expenditure records, despite an annual average collection of around Rs 10 lakhs. The cashier claimed Nandi handled temple funds from his residence without maintaining transparency.
A more serious charge involves the secret sale of approximately 75 tolas of gold, including 8 tolas donated between 2022–23, without any committee resolution. Patra claimed the former secretary misappropriated the proceeds from these sales.
Additionally, Nandi allegedly sold temple assets—iron, timber scraps, and corrugated sheets—worth around Rs 5 lakhs without official approval. He also accessed the temple’s Punjab National Bank locker on February 16, 2022, just before his tenure ended.
Treasurer Rinku Pal and assistant secretary Biswajit Sarkar called for a high-level inquiry and strict legal action. Head priest Manoj Chakraborty and other committee members were present during the press briefing.
