The Supreme Court of India Issues notice in the review petition of ISKCON India.
Justice M.M. Sundresh,
Justice Prashant Kumar, and
Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.
The Court will reconsider its May 2025 judgement, which had declared the The 1978 Karnataka Society as the owner of the Bangalore Temple.
The Court has agreed to re-examine an exhaustive body of evidence of forgery and fabrication previously deemed "not relevant."
- ISKCON was registered in India by its founder, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in Mumbai in 1971
- His vision was clear: "one ISKCON society for the whole of India."
- All temples opened during his lifetime (1971-1977) functioned as branches of the 1971 Mumbai society.
Current Status:
- Today, 531 temples across India operate as branches of the original ISKCON India (1971 Mumbai)
- In 1978, some diciples registered a separate society in Karnataka, misunderstanding the founder's instructions.
- This mistake was realized, and the society was abandoned.
The Evidence of Dormancy:
- No governing body meetings held.
- No activities conducted.
- No funds raised.
- No Income Tax returns filed for 24 years (1978-2002)
(1971 Mumbai)
Madhu Pandit Dasa,
Branch President
- in 1984, ISKCON India (1971 Mumbai) sent MPD to Bangalore to head its activities.
- From 1984 until 2001, he and over 60 other devotees operated explicitly as officiers of the Bangalore branch of the Mumbai Society.
- Actions Under Mumbai's Authority
- Raised funds using the 80G tax exemption of ISKCON India (1971 Mumbai).
- Sent detailed accounts of the Bangalore temple to Mumbai for consolidation.
- Was the General Secretary of ISKCON India, responsible for filing all-India accounts.
The "Double Fraud" ↴
MPD falsely inserted the names of himself, his wife, his co-brother (Chanchalpati Dasa), and his sister-in-law into the governing body of the long defunct 1978 Karnataka Society.
He took the financial accounts of ISKCON Mumbai's Bangalore branch and falsely filled them as the accounts of the Karnataka society, thereby laying claim to all its assets, including the temple.
- I am the Branch President of the Bangalore Branch of ISKCON India (1971 Mumbai).
- What was functioning and operating in Bangalore was a legal branch of ISKCON India (1971 Mumbai).
- Accounts were audited and sent to Mumbai annually.
- I am the President of an independent ISKCON Karnataka Society.
- The Bangalore temple is owned by the 1978 entity.
Claim: MPD's control is based on a purported Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Karnataka Society on .
The Fabrication:
- Venue: The meeting venue was not under ISKCON possession until 1985.
- Attendees: Several listed attendees were not in Bangalore on that day.
- Testimony: Some listed office-bearers have testified they were never part of the 1978 society.
- The Act: 12 years of back-dated financial statements (-) were filed with the Registrar of Society.
- The Date: All were filed on a single day in August 2001.
- The Purpose: To Artificially revieve the defunct 1978 society and claim assets worth hundreds of crores.
Two Conflicting Stories in Antedated Reports
The Evidence: Two contradictory audit reports, both personally signed by MPD and Chanchalpati Dasa in .
Physical Alteration of BDA Files
The Evidence: Original Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) files showing land allotment to the 1971 Mumbai society were altered.
Specifics of Tampering
- Original pages removed.
- Forged documents inserted.
- Fake seals affixed.
- Judicial Self-Admissions: MPD repeatedly confirming his role as Branch President for Mumbai
- Fraudulent Revival: Hijacking a defunct society in 2001.
- Fabricated History: A 1984 meeting that was physically impossible.
- Back-Dated Accounts: 12 years of financials created and filed on a single day.
- Forged Audit Reports: Two contradictory, antedated reports singed by MPD
- Tampered Public Records: Alteration of official BDA land allotment files.
Temple: They Are About a Fount a Founder's Legacy
Core Message: The attempt to usurp the Bangalore temple is part of a larger effort to control the assets and mission of the institution.
Broader Impact:
- This includes an attempt to take control of flagship projects like Akshaya Patra, which feeds young children across India.
- The fight to protect Srila Prabhupada's global mission and the integrity of ISKCON's service to the community.
Yudhistir Govinda Das"The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India's Decision to reopen this matter is a significant milestone in bringing out the trust of this case and for the protection of Srila Prabhupada's global mission. It is unfortunate what has happened - few individuals have tried to usurp the assets of the institution including the Bangalore temple and through it our flagship project of Akshaya Patra for feeding the young children of India. We are hopeful that, with the complete facts now before the Court it will bring justice to the lacks of ISKCON devotees and members across the country."
Director of Communications, ISKCON India (1971 Mumbai)
1971 in Mumbai by Srila Prabhupada.
Engaged in a wide range of spiritual, cultural, and philanthropic initiatives. Benefiting crores of people every year without distinction of caste, gender, or ethnicity.
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Temples (branches) across India.Apart from the temple in dispute, ISKCON India has 8 other branches in Bangalore and more than a dozen across Karnataka.
- Education
- Wellness
- Culture
- Cow Protection
- Hunger & Disaster Relied
- Rural Development