Mathura. Controversy is increasing regarding the live darshan/live streaming project of Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple. Lok Kalyan Media Private Limited has lodged an objection against giving the project to a suitable media. A detailed application has also been filed under the Right to Information Act. In the objection submitted by Lok Kalyan Media through District Magistrate Mathura (Member Secretary) to the high level management committee of Thakur Banke Bihari Ji Temple, it has been alleged that the committee is working under the order of the Honorable Supreme Court dated 08 August 2025. Despite this, transparency, fairness and constitutional process were not followed in the allocation of the live streaming project.
What is the whole controversy
The company says that under the public advertisement issued on 02 October 2025, it had submitted a technically complete proposal on 09 October, which included arrangements like HD camera network, cloud based live streaming, LED display, crowd management system and fail safe networking. Despite this, after the meeting on 20 November 2025, without any technical evaluation, comparative scoring and formal proposal of the committee, it was announced in the media that the project has been given to the eligible media. Lok Kalyan Media alleged that in the first meeting on 29 October 2025, eligible media were not included and during their presentation in the second meeting, representatives of Lok Kalyan Media were thrown out of the meeting room, which is in violation of the principles of natural justice. The company also said that there was no mention of a CSR-based model in the advertisement, yet the selection was made on the basis of verbal CSR assurances.
Will the truth come out through RTI?
A detailed application has been filed under the Right to Information Act in the District Magistrate’s office on behalf of Lok Kalyan Media by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami. The RTI has sought copies of the complete minutes of the meetings of October 29 and November 20, 2025, attendance register, agenda docket, audio-video recordings, CCTV footage, presentations of all applicants, technical evaluation, comparative score sheets, file notings, any proposals or decisions of the committee, CSR proposals, emails and other correspondence. It has also been asked as to which rule, government mandate or court order has given the committee chairman the right to unilaterally select an agency and make an announcement in the media.
This is not just to protect business interests
Public welfare media says that this entire matter is related to a public religious institution and any kind of opaqueness in the system running under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court is against the public interest. The company has warned that if the illegal declaration is not canceled in time and a transparent re-evaluation is not done, then it will be forced to take contempt and other legal action in the Honorable Supreme Court. The company claims that its objection and RTI have been filed not only to protect commercial interests, but with the aim of conducting the sacred service like live darshan of Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Ji in a fair, transparent and as per the rules.
Green signal in 20 minutes
Anil Gupta, Director of Lok Kalyan Media, said that the Thakur Banke Bihari Mandir Management Committee itself has suffered from mismanagement, partisan working style and vested interests. The committee wrongly awarded the sensitive project of live streaming of temple darshan to a company which came to present for the first time and left after showing only a film. That company verbally said that it would do this work from the CSR fund, whereas the legal provisions related to the CSR fund are clear and written evidence, assessment and testing are mandatory for it. Forget the investigation, the project was given the green signal in just 15–20 minutes.
Selection based on assurances
Speaking to Local 18, advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami said that the high-powered committee works directly under the orders of the Supreme Court and is bound by Articles 14, 21, 25 of the Constitution and the public trust principle. There is no committee proposal, no voting, no technical evaluation and no financial test for the said allocation. The selection based on verbal CSR assurances is unknown in law.
