A serious revelation has emerged showing that gangs and middlemen are flouting laws and regulations to rule the sacred premises of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Pashupatinath Temple. Leveraging local ties and close connections with high-ranking officials of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), the administrative chief, and the departmental minister, Rajan Gurung, operator of Bhaleshwor Pvt. Ltd., faces severe allegations of harboring thugs under the guise of photographers and running an extortion racket charging exorbitant fees from devotees.

As certain responsible PADT officials manipulate the laws and regulations of Pashupati to suit their personal interests, the temple premises have turned into a hub for extortion and mob aggression.

Contract Violation, Illegal Extortion, and Assault on Devotees

In 2021, the Pashupati Area Development Trust entered into a 5-year agreement with Bhaleshwor Pvt. Ltd., operated by Rajan Gurung of Kaski, designating a specific area for taking photographs to provide souvenirs for visiting devotees, under the condition of paying monthly fees as per executive orders.

However, Bhaleshwor Pvt. Ltd. failed to regularly pay even the stipulated amount due to the Trust as per the agreement, while continuously deploying dozens of unauthorized videographers and camera operators across the temple premises to arbitrarily overcharge devotees.

Serious questions were raised at the Trust regarding the photographers of the said firm creating disturbance, forcefully demanding money from devotees, and even physically assaulting those who protested. Despite repeated complaints and formal reports lodged at both the PADT and the local police station regarding the assault and cheating of devotees, PADT's administrative chief and officials remained silent and refrained from taking any action due to Gurung's high-level clout.

Discrimination Against Budha Subba Digital and Threats from Rajan Gurung

Meanwhile, in 2023 (Bhadra 11, 2080 B.S.), the Trust executed an official 5-year contract with Budha Subba Digital Pvt. Ltd. (Manager: Nawaraj Giri) for the live telecast of the Ganga Aarti across the Bagmati River, lamp lighting and video shooting in the core area/Rudragadeshwar, and digital management, for a monthly fee of Rs. 160,000 excluding VAT (totaling Rs. 180,800).

Although Budha Subba Digital deposited millions in the Trust's account as security deposit and bank guarantee, PADT failed to provide approved fee rates to the company and withheld the official work order. Conversely, Bhaleshwor Pvt. Ltd. continued illegally collecting money without any approved rates, in direct breach of contract.

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After the contract term of Bhaleshwor Pvt. Ltd. expired at the end of Shrawan 2083 B.S., Rajan Gurung's group proposed that Budha Subba Digital either accommodate them in its agreement or pay them a daily fee. Threatening to block their operations if the illegal demand was rejected, Gurung's camera operators encroached upon Budha Subba's designated area and disrupted their work. When Budha Subba submitted a written request to PADT seeking workplace coordination and facilitation, the Trust's administrative officer irresponsibly advised them to "compromise and get along," effectively promoting hooliganism and extortion.

Secret Decision of Baishakh 15 and Cancellation Letter of Bhadra 18

On Baishakh 15, 2083 B.S., the Governing Council of PADT had passed a decision to cancel all agreements granted for photography and videography within the temple premises. However, the Trust kept this decision undisclosed until the contract period of the controversial Bhaleshwor Pvt. Ltd. and Rajan Gurung officially ended at the end of Shrawan 2083 B.S.

Only after Bhaleshwor's term expired and Budha Subba rejected Gurung's illegal payment proposal did the Trust publicly disclose the decision, serving Budha Subba Digital Pvt. Ltd. a cancellation letter on Bhadra 18, 2083 B.S., signed by Acting Branch Chief Surya Bahadur Bhat, citing the council decision of Baishakh 15.

Questions Over PADT's Double Standards and Intentions

The Council's Baishakh 15 decision primarily pertained to canceling agreements related to photo/video shoots. However, Budha Subba Digital was principally tasked with conducting lamp lighting, live streaming the evening Ganga Aarti globally, and monitoring as well as countering false propaganda surrounding the Pashupati area.

The fact that PADT handed an abrupt termination letter to Budha Subba—a firm that was paying nearly Rs. 200,000 monthly in revenue and had submitted substantial bank guarantees—without ever issuing an official work order, clearly indicates that Trust officials were intent on shielding Rajan Gurung's gang and ousting Budha Subba from the Pashupati area.

Instead of taking action against Bhaleshwor Pvt. Ltd. and Rajan Gurung for assaulting devotees, failing to pay rent and security deposits, and running an illegal extortion racket, the Trust's rogue officials intentionally ousted an organization attempting to operate within legal procedures—a move that has severely tarnished the sanctity and dignity of Lord Pashupatinath.