Sanjib ChakrabortyKolkata: A controversy has erupted in Panihati after allegations surfaced that the husband of the local MLA Ratna Debnath, who is also the father of the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder victim, pressured the priest of a nearly 200-year-old temple to have donations from all temple collection boxes counted at the residence of the MLA.However, Debnath’s husband has denied all the allegations.The allegation relates to the historic Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Temple at Mahotsab Tala Ghat in Panihati. Temple priest Bankubihari Bandyopadhyay has reportedly alleged that the husband of Debnath exerted pressure on him over the issue. An audio recording between an individual and the temple priest purportedly linked to a conversation in this connection has since surfaced on social media and gone viral. The TOI, however, did not verify the authenticity of the audio.Responding to the controversy, MLA Ratna Debnath on Wednesday claimed that she and her husband were being targeted for political reasons.“Some people in Panihati are conspiring to malign me and my husband politically. As the area’s MLA, my decision is that the temple’s donation money should be used exclusively for the temple’s development through a properly constituted trustee board under govt oversight. The temple priest and other concerned persons are welcome to be part of that trustee, but they will no longer be able to personally share the temple donations as was allegedly done in the past,” she said.According to local sources, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Temple, located beside Mahotsab Tala Ghat, is nearly two centuries old and attracts substantial donations throughout the year. “The amount increases significantly during the annual Danda Mahotsab, when lakhs of devotees gather at the site. This year’s festival was held on Saturday,” a devotee said.According to the priest, on the eve of the festival, MLA’s husband visited the temple along with several others and enquired about who was in possession of the keys to the temple and its donation boxes. Bankubihari Bandyopadhyay said he informed them that his family had been performing the temple’s rituals and maintaining its affairs for generations.The priest alleged that he was then told that the money collected in the donation boxes, both inside and outside the temple, would be taken to the MLA’s residence for counting. He claimed he objected to the proposal and insisted that such a decision would require written instructions from the MLA. According to him, the matter did not proceed further after his objection. However, he acknowledged that he has not lodged any written complaint with the police or any other authority.Rejecting the allegations, MLA’s husband said the viral audio clip was being taken out of context.“If the entire audio recording is heard, the real picture will become clear. I had only proposed the formation of a trustee board to ensure the temple’s development and transparent utilisation of donation funds. The allegation that I directed the donation money to be taken to the MLA’s residence for counting is completely baseless. If anyone else made such a statement, I cannot be held responsible,” he said.
