Odisha: Case against Amazon India for ‘unauthorized’ sale of Puri temple’s Nirmalya Prasad
BHUBANESWAR: Singhadwar police in Puri registered a case against Amazon India on Friday for ‘unauthorized’ sale of the Jagannath temple’s Nirmalya Prasad on their shopping portal. Nirmala is the dried rice of holy Mahaprasad, cooked in the 12thcentury shrine.
On Thursday, the temple’s administrator (development) Ajay Kumar Jena lodged a complaint with Singhadwar police against Amazon India, seeking legal action. “We (temple administration) have not authorized or permitted anybody to sell Nirmalaya of the shrine on Amazon India or any other platform. However, unauthorized sale of the Nirmala Prasad on Amazon India’s online shopping store has come to our notice. The illegal act is an insult to the holy Prasad and has hurt the sentiments of servitors as well as devotees,” Jena’s written complaint said.
Temple administration said Nirmalya was being sold on the popular e-commerce site for Rs 59 per packet containing 25 grams with a delivery charge of additional Rs 50. The temple administration has requested the police to ask the company to stop selling Nirmalya on the online store.
“We have registered a case (FIR no 70/2020) against Amazon India under sections 30-A (2) of Shree Jaganath Temple Act 1955 and 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) of the IPC. Their concerned functionaries will be served with a notice for questioning,” superintendent of police (Puri) Kanwar Vishal Singh told TOI. Amazon India’s authorities could not be contacted for comment.