Junagadh: The Junagadh district administration has sealed the ‘donation box’ (Daan Peti) of Bhavnath temple situated near the Girnar hills, where lakhs of devotees from across the country and the world will arrive during the upcoming famous Mahashivaratri Mela (fair) from February 20 to 24.

Deputy collector Rajesh Aal, who has been appointed as the interim administrator of the temple by collector Rahul Gupta since February 6, sealed the donation box late last evening. The seal will now most likely be opened after the fair or in case it is filled up earlier.

He said that the step has been taken to safeguard the image of the famous temple. Large amount of donation is received by the temple during the famous fair.

Notably, after the arrest of the earlier administrator and Mahant of the temple and also the lady mahant of Muketeshwar math in Banaskantha district, Sadhvi Jaishreeka Giri in connection with a cheating case and recovery of large amount of cash, gold and liquor from her residence, a new Mahant Harigiri ji was appointed by the saints but the matter has turned in to a legal battle with a plea challenging the appointment in Gujarat High Court. The court is likely to hear the matter on February 14.

Meanwhile a committee of saints under the the deputy collector is to look after the temple affairs as an interim arrangement. An account of the temple is to be opened in the bank and the donations received by it would be deposited in it.

The donation box of the temple was also earlier locked by one faction during the dispute.

DeshGujarat