Hindu Mandir – Correction Regarding $152,248 Payment to the Law Firm

This publication, vegasdesi.com, offers a sincere apology to readers regarding the issue concerning the recent settlement agreement where the Hindu Mandir agreed to pay over $200,000 in legal fees. The issue was when this publication reported one signature on a check totaling $152,248 issued by the Mandir and signed by Chair Gopi Latpate. Per the Mandir bylaws, any check over $5,000 must have two signatures. However, vegasdesi misinterpreted the settlement agreement. The agreement allows for legal fees to be paid without needing the two-signature requirement, but this applies only to the attorneys’ fees and costs specified in the settlement. Other payments would still need two signatures.
The correct information regarding payment for legal fees as per the agreement is – As of the Effective Date, and with the exception of the payment of the attorneys’ fees and costs required by this Agreement, Treasurer Deepa Varatkar shall notify Secretary Rakesh Patel of any Temple expenditure between $1,000 and $5,000.
This publication apologizes for any confusion, inconvenience, or harm caused by the conflict between the settlement agreement and the Mandir bylaws. This publication strives to provide reliable and trustworthy information, and regret falling short of that standard in this instance. One signature on the check conforms to the settlement agreement.
However, there are many new questions from the community, especially about why the Hindu Board, led by Chair Latpate, agreed to overrule the bylaws of the Mandir. The Board’s decisions are guided by the provisions outlined in the bylaws, and in many instances, it has failed to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities to the community. Transparency and accountability are essential in such situations, and the Board should provide clear explanations for their actions to maintain trust with the community.