Lord Jagannath of Puri has deposits worth Rs 545 crore in Yes Bank

Bhubaneswar, Mar 6 () Devotees of Lord Jagannathand priests at the centuries-old temple in Puri are worriedfollowing RBI restrictions on Yes Bank where Rs 545 crore isdeposited in the deity's name.The RBI has capped withdrawals from Yes Bank at Rs50,000 for the next one month and imposed strict limits onoperations after the cash-starved lender faced "regularoutflow of liquidity" following an effort to raise new capitalfailed.

The RBI restrictions on Yes Bank have caused panicamong the devotees, said senior 'Daitapati' (servitor) BinayakDasmohaopatra.

"We demand a thorough probe and action against thepersons responsible for depositing such a huge amount in aprivate bank for a little more interest," he said.

"It is illegal as well as unethical to deposit thelord's funds in a private bank. Shree Jagannath TempleAdministration (SJTA) and the Temple's Managing Committeeshould be held responsible for the uncertainty," saidJagannath Sena convenor Priyadarshi Patnaik.

He said a complaint was filed at a police station inPuri demanding probe over depositing the money in a privatebank, but no action was taken.

Allaying concerns, Law Minister Pratap Jena said themoney is with the bank as fixed deposits and not in a savingsaccount.

"The government has already decided to transfer thefunds from Yes Bank to a nationalised bank after tenures ofthe fixed deposits end this month," he said.

Asked whether the government has taken up the matterwith the RBI, the minister said, "I have not talked to thebank authorities so far. I am sure, we will be able totransfer the money from Yes Bank without any problem."

Former law minister and ex-Puri MLA Maheswar Mohantysaid it was not proper to keep the money with a private bankfor more interest.

"The SJTA should immediately take up the matter withthe RBI and ensure that the money is safe," Mohanty said.

The law minister last month told the assembly that ofthe lord's total Rs 626.44 crore, Rs 592 crore was kept inYes Bank. While Rs 545 crore was in the bank as fixeddeposits, the remaining Rs 47 crore was in a flexi account.

The money kept in the flexi account has been withdrawnand the remaining Rs 545 crore will be transferred to anationalised bank in two phases after their maturities onMarch 16 and March 29, the minister had said.

Congress MLA Suresh Routray sought a clarificationfrom the state government as to why it allowed the SJTA todeposit the lord's money in a private bank.

"We will not tolerate improper utilisation of LordJagannath's money. The Congress will launch a statewideagitation demanding early recovery of the funds," he said.

The BJP said the state government must take immediatesteps to recover the money.

"Nobody including the government and the SJTA hasrights to meddle with the lord's funds," said BJP leaderBhrugu Buxipatra. AAMSOM SOM