Srimandir Funds In Yes Bank Row: Pending Rs 156 Crore FD Withdrawn After Maturity

Bhubaneswar: After the maturity of the pending fixed deposit, Yes Bank on Monday remitted Rs 156 crore to the designated account of Jagannath Temple Corpus Fund at SBI Puri Main Branch. Earlier, the private sector bank had remitted Rs 397 crore to the Srimandir's corpus fund.

"During the bankers' meeting today, Bank of Baroda has offered the highest 6.05 per cent interest rate. Presently, we are taking into the consideration opinion of the members of the finance sub-committee. The chief administrator will take a final decision regarding the bank where the money will be deposited," informed Ajay Kumar Jena, Administrator (Development) of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration.

On the other hand, a Corona Relief Fund has been constituted. Lord Jagannath devotees and servitors have also donated for the cause. "Members of the managing committee have also donated their sitting fee of two years," said Ramchandra Dasmohapatra, member of the Srimandir managing committee.

Also Read: Yes Bank Returns Rs 397 Crore Shree Jagannath Funds, Next Refund On March 30

In the first phase, Yes Bank had remitted Rs 397,23,27,636 (principal Rs 389 crore and interest Rs 8,23,27,636) to the designated account of Jagannath Temple Corpus Fund at SBI main branch in Puri.

Earlier, opposition parties, BJP and the Congress, had tried to corner the Odisha government over its decision to park funds belonging to the Lord Jagannath in crisis-hit Yes Bank, with uncertainty looming large over the Rs 545 crore fund of Srimandir following a moratorium on withdrawals by RBI. The Opposition had sought clarification from Odisha government over who gave the direction to transfer the cash to a private bank.

Also Read: After Yes Bank Crisis, SJTA Says Yes To Union Bank Of India To Park Srimandir Funds

Later, a delegation of BJD MPs led by Prasanna Acharya had met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss about the funds belonging to Puri Srimandir. They had also urged Sitharaman to take urgent measures to resolve the issue.