SOUTH VANCOUVER – Khalsa Diwan Society, Vancouver is caught in an alleged theft scandal by temple committee member or members.
News of the alleged theft spread like wild fire this week with Punjabi media reporting that Ross Street Gurdwara committee member or members had allegedly taken large amounts of cash that did not belong to them.
After news of the incident hit the airwaves, temple President Malkit Dhami confirmed that an investigation was underway but he refused to disclose the culprit or culprits.
The alleged wrongdoings included the rental income taken from international students in cash but was not accounted for. Many students have complained that upwards of $700 per month was taken from them and it is alleged that there were at least 6-7 students.
Other allegations include committee member allegedly did not report nor submit these funds during the past year. Other items allegedly paid in cash with questionable source of funding. A caller also alleged that donations for food that were made to help out during the COVID crises were not accounted for.
One of the callers into a radio station alleged that the donations that people gave to help the needy did not get to them and have also gone missing.
Former Ross President Sohan Singh Deo also called to complain that the media should not have reported this story until the investigation was complete but he was told that media has the right to report and community wants to know exactly what happened. Current President Dhami has admitted that there is an investigation taking place.
Community members also questioned the legitimacy of an investigation being done by those involved. They said the committee investigating itself is like the Police investigating itself for wrong doings. They demanded an independent investigation that should also include Gurdwara opposition slate members.
The opposition representative Santokh Singh Suri also demanded an independent and impartial investigation. He said the congregation had the right to know who the culprits were and that those individuals involved should be kicked out of the committee and their access to Gurdwara information disabled immediately. He also said that the committee cannot investigate itself.
“By admission of an investigation they have admitted that wrongdoings were done but they continue to hide and protect the guilty,” Suri said. “We demand that they acknowledged and accept what has happened and quit hiding. The congregation has the right to know.”
Suri said that “either the committee tell who it is and kick them out of the committee or else the opposition will take action including police reporting and legal action. Every time there is wrong doings committed they complain that we take them to court. So we are telling you ahead of time to do the right thing if not it is you that will be forcing us to seek a legal recourse.
“The foundation of the Society was built on the blood of martyrs that gave their lives serving this Gurdwara and that standard must be upheld.”
Critics are asking for the immediate dismissal of the guilty party and full disclosure of the incident of money taking, saying there could be many abuses done by the guilty party and his supporters.
