Thiruvananthapuram: It is alleged that the temple fund for the Kaliyootu festival of the Major Vellayani Devi temple under the Travancore Devaswom Board has been redirected to the CPM local committee with the supervision of secretary of the advisory committee and the festival committee officials.
The CPM has also issued death threats against the president and vice-president of the advisory council, who questioned the financial irregularity of the temple. Although they have lodged a complaint at the Devaswom Board regarding the money laundering, there has been no action taken against it.
The Devaswom Board had given permission to the temple advisory committee to collect Rs 45 lakh from the devotees for the Kaliyootu festival at the Vellayani Devi temple. However due to coronavirus outbreak, the 75-day-long festival had to be abandoned in mid-way.
After this, the secretary of the advisory committee or the general convener of the festival committee refused to present the revenue and expenditure account, including the donations received to the temple in connection with the festival. It was alleged that the amount was transferred to the CPM local committee.
The general convener of the festival committee, a CPM activist, threatened to kill the president and vice-president of the advisory council for questioning the financial irregularities worth lakhs of rupees.