SHILLONG: The former Secretary, Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS), Shillong, Swami Damodarananda, who is facing embezzlement charges to the tune of over Rs. 60lakh, has been expelled from the organisation following a Special Governing Body meeting convened in this regard on Thursday in Kolkata .
The Secretary, BSS headquarters, Kolkata, Swami Bishwatmananda who took exception to the anomaly, is planning to file a lawsuit against the accused to recover the money as BSS wants to ensure that there is institutional sanctity and this will also send a strong message to others as this will act as a deterrent.
Damodarananda was accused of money laundering to the tune of over Rs. 60lakh – which were collected over the years as public donations and was not put into proper accounts of BSS, Shillong from his personal accounts maintained at a nationaliaed bank branch here, and also from other sources.
According to bank statements dated back to 2012, Damodarananda transferred money to the account of his parents – Provat Kumar Misra and Juthika Misra and his brother Sumit Misra, regularly, in Burdwan, West Bengal.
Sources had even claimed that the beneficiaries of the transferred amount have since developed assets in the form of properties, buildings, commercial enterprises in Burdwan – which is the hometown of Damodarananda.
Apart from public donations, Damodarananda is also accused of showing the pathology and other departments at the BSS medical unit here operating free of cost, to the authorities, whereas in reality the patients / visitors were charged besides there are irregularities in procurement of medicines too.
Also, pilgrims were allegedly charged higher rates at the BSS guesthouse instead of the official nominal rates.
Following an emergency meeting on November 2, the accused monk was suspended facing embezzlement charges.
Immediately after receiving complaints of misappropriation, the BSS had called for 10 years’ accounts for verification and it was found that the BSS, Shillong accounts were correct and there was no discrepancy in ashram fund.
However, Swami Damodarananda borrowed money from some devotee, who paid the money on an agreement signed on stamp paper from Sri Bijit Paul.
It was also revealed that he managed some fund in his name from some devotees due to personal influences but not in the name of Bharat Sevashram Sangha,” a statement from BSS had earlier said.
