Sikhs accuse Rajpal of graft for sending notice to gurudwara

Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal is facing protests from within his community. He irked a section of Sikhsu00a0 when he sent a notice to a gurudwara to stop what he said was unauthorised construction work.

Rajpal also threatened to demolish a part of the gurudwara in Ganesh Peth if the notice was ignored. Sikhs who go to the gurudwara flew into a rage over the notice and took to the streets yesterday, shouting slogansu00a0 and threatening to expose Rajpal's "corrupt" practices.

"We were doing the construction in the gurudwara using our own funds. Then Rajpal sent a notice saying permissions weren't sought. He threatened action," said Gurmeet Singh, a protester.

The protesters have alleged Rajpal has a history of fraud and was issued a non-bailable warrant in the past.

Amarjit Parihar, president of Sikh Young Circle, alleged Rajpal had siphoned off Rs 40 lakh. "During celebrations to commemorate 300 years of Guru Granth Sahib, Rajpal submitted bills of Rs 1.12 lakh towards air tickets for a Sikh leader who did not come," he said. "He claimed expenses of Rs 80,000 for showering flowers from a helicopter."

Protesters also alleged Rajpal had sanctioned a fund of Rs 30 lakh to an organisation which is not even registered. "The organisation, sangatsewa.com, which he sanctioned money to isn't even registered with the Charity Commissioner. How can he give away public money, and that too, in name of the Sikh community? Or is he hand in glove with these people?" said Parihar.