Monks of Bharat Sevashram Sangha from across the country will land in Shillong to attend a meeting on November 8 convened for the purpose of money laundering allegations against secretary of Shillong branch.
The secretary, BSS headquarters, Swami Vishwatmananda while speaking from Kolkata on Sunday said a meeting has been convened on November 8 at Shillong for the purpose of money laundering allegations against Swami Damodarananda where “perhaps the members of the special governing body will participate from all over the country”.
Swami Damodarananda also known as Amit Maharaj has allegedly transferred money to his parents Provat Kumar Misra, Juthika Misra and brother Sumit Misra of Burdwan, from his personal account maintained at a nationalized branch in Shillong.
According to the bank statements, a total of Rs 24.26 lakh was transferred from the account of Swami Damodarananda, Rs. 7.70 lakh transferred from the account of Swami Purnabratananda and Rs. 28.56 lakh in the form of cheques and from devotees’ accounts.
It is alleged that money from the account of Purnabratananda were misused by Damodarananda.
Later, this account was closed by Purnabratananda.
Sources claimed that the beneficiary of this transferred amount has since developed assets in the form of properties and buildings in West Bengal’s Burdwan – which happens to be the hometown of Damodarananda before he took to sainthood.
It is further alleged that pilgrims are being charged higher rates for their stay at the BSS guesthouse at Shillong instead of the official nominal rates. Apart from this, it is also alleged that the pathology and other departments at the BSS medical unit is shown to the authorities being operating free of cost whereas in reality the patients / visitors are charged besides irregularities in procurement of medicines, too. These earnings from the medical unit are allegedly not put into proper books of accounts.
When asked, Swami Vishwatmananda said that they will investigate every allegation that is emerging against the accused.