Puri: Amid a surge of devotees during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Monday cautioned the public against fraudulent advertisements offering ‘VIP darshan on payment’, asserting that no such facility exists at the 12th-century shrine.
The SJTA lodged a complaint with the Singhadwar police station against a portal identified as ‘eoodisha’ for allegedly misleading devotees, particularly those from outside Odisha, by claiming to offer privileged access to the temple in exchange for money.
“There is no provision for VIP darshan on payment in the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, and the SJTA has not authorised any individual or organisation to facilitate such darshan,” Hemanta Kumar Padhi, Officer on Special Duty (Security), said in the complaint.
“The advertisement circulated by ‘eoodisha’ is completely fake and intended to cheat the general public. Devotees are advised not to believe such advertisements,” it added.
Central Range Inspector General of Police Satyajit Naik said an FIR had been registered, and appropriate action would be taken.
“There is absolutely no provision or rule for VIP darshan,” he said.
According to officials, the portal allegedly circulated social media advertisements claiming to offer a “new facility” providing smoother and privileged access to the shrine from August 1 on payment.
Chhatisa Nijoga (an apex body of servitors) president Janardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra also clarified that there is no online ticketing system for either general or VIP entry.
“Every devotee, whether coming from Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, or anywhere else, must stand in the general queue to catch a glimpse of the deities,” he said.
DIG Naik said special security arrangements are made on the occasion of ‘Hera Panchami’ rituals in Shree Gundicha Temple.