Agents accused of charging devotees for queue jumping at Siddhivinayak Temple

Shirish Vaktania Anurag Kamble and Apoorva AgasheHundreds of thousands of devotees thronged Siddhivinayak temple on October 2 on the occasion of Vighnaharta Sankashti Chaturthi But midday uncovered a troubling practice agents offering VVIP darshan in just ldquo23 minutesrdquo for Rs 2000 When these reporters visited the temple on Monday afternoon they encountered several agents who promised easy access to the temple for Rs 2000 These agents promised charan sparsh darshan a chance to touch the Ganesh idolFrom left Bhola who claimed to have connections among the templersquos authorities Jitu an agent who runs a nearby sweet and flower shop the temple staffer who led the team to the inner sanctumUpon reaching the temple at 3 pm the midday team observed numerous agents stationed outside the templersquos entrance The agents were seen trying to entice devotees Furthermore these individuals seemed to have arrangements with nearby flower and sweet shops It was also evident that they were collaborating with the public relations office department of the temple The midday team decided to pay Rs 3000 for the VVIP darshan experience including Rs 1900 for darshan itself and Rs 1100 for the prasad plate Strangely despite promising to do so the agents did not provide any receipts for the sameAgent 1Agent Are you interested in VVIP or regular darshan The former is available for R2000 for four people while the latter costs R100Reporter Is there room for negotiationAgent No we cannot negotiateReporter How long will the darshan takeAgent It will take approximately 1015 minutesPorter I will get back to you shortlyAll hurdles crossed the reporters finally see the lordAgent 2 BholaReporter We are a group of four people and would like to opt for VVIP darshanBhola I will charge Rs 2000 for four people I have connections among the temple authorities If you join the regular line it will take at least two to three hoursReporter The cost is quite high Can you lower itBhola The rate is fixed You dont need to pay in advance only after the darshan I will arrange direct entry into the templeReporter I will inform you shortly as other relatives of ours are on their wayAgent 3 JituThe team met Bhola an hour later and he introduced another agent Jitu Bhai who runs a nearby sweet shop The reporters agreed to pay Rs 3000 including the cost of VVIP darshan and chadhava which comprises a coconut a shawl flowers and modaks Jitu escorted the correspondents to the temple gate at 6 pmThe gate was closed as the premises were being cleaned Around 620 pm when they were opened the reporters were asked to walk parallel to the regular line and join in before reaching the security counter Once they were on the other side of the counter Jitu requested them to go to the public relations officerrsquos PRO office and tell name and registration number Jitu assured the team that it would get a regular VVIP darshan receipt from the temple but no such receipt was provided The man at the counter called another employee and told him to the team to the sanctum sanctorumThe second staffer who was in uniform then escorted the team and asked it to get through the crowds to offer the chadhava He told the reporters not to take videos and photos inside the temple After making offerings to priests the correspondents exited the temple within a few minutes Later they met Jitu at his shop and paid the amount via a digital transactionThe following is their exact exchange with JituJitu I will take you inside the temple and you will get darshan in just 34 minutes You have to pay me R2000 for VVIP darshan and the prasad plate cost is Rs 1150Reporter Itrsquos too costlyJitu Okay do the darshan and we can round it to Rs 3000 Letrsquos go for darshanReporter We wonrsquot get into troubleJitu We have a setting with the PRO of the temple I will take you inside Relax Nobody will catch you I will take you inside the temple nowReporter Are you working at this shopJitu No I have been running a sweet and flower shop and my family has been running this shop since 1985Reporter How will we perform charan sparsh darshanJitu I will take you to the counter of the PRO office located inside the temple You only have to give your name and the staff will take you directly inside the temple within 23 minutesAuthorities ReactWhen midday contacted the Dadar police station about the racket Senior PI Rajendra Avhad said ldquoWe will investigate the matter and check whatrsquos going on the spot Appropriate action will be taken against the accusedrdquo Siddhivinayak templersquos Spokesperson Veena Patil meanwhile said ldquoWe are unaware of the incident I request that you to submit proof We will ensure that the matter is investigatedrdquoRs 1150Amount charged for prasad plate