Bhubaneswar, July 20: The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) has lodged an FIR against a misleading advertisement that falsely claimed to offer paid VIP darshan of Lord Jagannath at the Puri temple. The administration has termed the advertisement fraudulent and appealed to devotees not to fall prey to such scams.
In a formal complaint submitted to the Inspector-in-Charge of Singhadwara Police Station on July 19, the SJTA clarified that there is no provision for paid VIP darshan inside the Shree Jagannath Temple. It also stated that the temple administration has not authorised any individual, agency or private organisation to provide such services.
The complaint specifically referred to an advertisement circulated by an entity named ‘eoOdisha’, which promoted a service called “MyEO Jagannath Dham Concierge Service.” The advertisement allegedly claimed to provide devotees with special VIP darshan facilities in exchange for payment.
The SJTA described the advertisement as completely fake and said it was intended to mislead and cheat unsuspecting devotees visiting the temple. Officials expressed concern that such false claims could create confusion among pilgrims and tarnish the sanctity of the temple’s established darshan system.
In the complaint signed by Hemanta Kumar Padhi, OSD (Security), SJTA, the administration reiterated that all darshan arrangements are governed strictly by temple rules and no paid VIP entry is permitted. Devotees have been urged to verify any information related to temple services only through official sources and avoid dealing with unauthorised agencies or online advertisements.
Following the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation to trace those responsible for publishing the misleading advertisement. Authorities are examining the origin of the promotional material and have assured that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found involved in the alleged fraud.
The temple administration has once again appealed to devotees to remain vigilant and report any suspicious claims or advertisements related to Jagannath Temple services to the authorities.
About the Author
