Updated…Settlement Reached Between Hindu Mandir Board’s Warring Factions. Donor’s Money Paid Over $150,000 in Legal Expenses on Litigation. Over $50,000 in Outstanding Legal Fees.
At the end of last year, the Mandir Board was increasingly riven by two warring factions. Personality traits, individual agendas, self-interest & animosity, and not following the organization’s bylaws and rules breed faction, and faction lead to the civil war. That precisely happened among the Hindu Mandir Board members when one faction failed to follow the Mandir bylaws for electing the Executive Committee for 2024-25. After a long delay, this publication got hold of the settlement agreement.
As reported by this publication, the Mandir bylaws were grossly violated for election to the new management committee to run the Mandir’s daily operations. Then, Chairman Jagdish Mehta nullified the election and called a new election. Mehta and a few members of the Board of Trustees listened to the community by announcing the re-selection of the incoming members of the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees leadership. Subsequently, the new executive committee took over the daily affairs of the Mandir, and the community flocked back to the religious and spiritual activities under the leadership of Pratik Dudhia.
In March, the Hindu Society of Nevada (HSON) filed a lawsuit due to disagreements about the election process. The lawsuit was filed against Jagdish Mehta and Amaratbhai Patel as an active trustee, Nutan Parikh as an inactive trustee along with Pratik Dudhia, Somendra Mukherjee, Rakesh Patel, and Bharti Gupta, all in their capacity as a general member of the Hindu Society of Nevada.
After months of legal wrangling and mounting legal bills totaling over $250,000 on both sides, the parties agreed to settle and move forward to serve the community. However, the agreement failed to resolve the community’s concerns regarding the Board’s inability to pursue meaningful reforms. Mandir’s insurance company has denied any claims for litigation-related costs.
Per the settlement documents, HSON and the Third-Party Defendants are entitled to reimbursement from HSON for 100% of legal fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with the Dispute and the Complaint. Board members who are the Third-Party Defendants include Gopi Latpate, Savita Dixit, Ujwalla Mahatme, Ranjit Jain, and Ram Janga. According to the sources, the same group of Board members agreed to file the lawsuit at Mandir’s expense. However, the Defendants are entitled to reimbursement from HSON, up to $50,000 in legal fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with the Dispute and the Complaint.
Per the agreement, Vice Chairperson Savita Dixit (Chander) and Secretary Girish Kaimal agreed to and resigned from the positions to which they were elected during the December 2023 Election. In addition, the Parties agreed the Chairperson of HSON shall be Gopi Latpate, the Vice Chairperson of Hindu Society of Nevada (HSON) shall be Amaratbhai Patel and HSON’s Executive Committee shall be comprised as follows: President – Mohan Achanta, Vice President – Pratik Dudhia, Secretary Rakesh Patel, and Treasurer Deepa Varatkar (the “Newly Constituted Executive Committee.”)
This publication has learned that the Chair Latpate wrote and signed the check to the plaintiff’s attorneys for over $150,000. Further, per the sources, the six-figure check had only one signature: Chairman Gopi Latpate. The president did not sign the check. Per the Mandir bylaws (section 10.9), all checks or transfers over the amount of $5,000.00…must bear the signatures of the President and the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.
Multiple sources have confirmed the legal fees from the defense lawyers could run over $100,000. It seems the defense team is facing a significant financial burden, as they may cover more than $100,000 in legal fees, with only $50,000 eligible for reimbursement.
Once again, the Board has blatantly failed to follow the fundamental bylaws of the Mandir. This situation may warrant further review to ensure compliance with governance protocols and proper financial oversight. The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to enforce the accounting rules and procedures, enforce the publishing of financial reports, ensure transparency in dealing with Mandir financial management, and inform the donors of the use and/or misuse of their donations.
“The litigation and associated costs will likely significantly impact Mandir’s daily administration. While financial resources are allocated to legal matters, the core operations and management practices are expected to suffer,” said a community member. It is disappointing that the Mandir used donors’ money to file a lawsuit without positive results for the community. The community has no way to learn the financial situation of the Mandir as no financial reports have been published for a long time. Open financial reporting is vital for building trust and ensuring accountability. This publication requested that Mandir Treasurer Deepa Vartakar provide the treasurer report. In a reply, Ms. Vartakar said, “We don’t have bank account access yet. So we couldn’t share any financials with the Board.” If the Treasurer has no access to the bank account, the question arises of who has control of Mandir’s finances.
Another issue covered under the agreement includes that parties shall dissolve the current Puja and Priest Committee and select new members of such committee consistent with the bylaws. Additionally, all HSON Board of Trustees meetings shall be electronically recorded for review and approval at the next following Board of Trustees meeting. All such recordings shall be maintained by HSON.
Further, as of the effective date, only the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and the newly Constituted Executive Committee shall operate and have access to HSON’s official social media accounts, including HSON’s email and WhatsApp accounts, and shall have access to and may use HSON’s security system, including, but not limited to, security cameras and recording devices. The parties agree that all other unofficial social media accounts which purport to conduct official HSON business will be discontinued by no later than the next Board of Trustees meeting. Any updates made on the official HSON WhatsApp group, website, newsletter, and social media must be first approved by the Executive Committee before publication.
Many community stakeholders, especially those instrumental in bringing Mandir to fruition, are appalled by the plutocratic Board to spend the donors’ money on frivolous litigation. When donors contribute with specific intentions, it can be disheartening to see those resources directed toward litigation instead of the community’s religious and spiritual goals.
Interestingly, in an email dated December 16, 2023, to the Board Members, Gopi Latpate resigned as a Board Trustee and a future Chairman. In an email, Latpate mentioned, “After considerable reflection on my career personalities and commitments, I’ve decided to resign…I remain committed to the temple’s welfare and will continue to support as a volunteer.” On the same day, another Board Trustee, Ujwala Mahatme submitted her resignation, which was accepted by Chair Jagdish Mehta, along with the resignation of Mr. Latpate. This acceptance initially quelled any animosity among Board members, allowing the Mandir to refocus on serving the community’s religious and spiritual needs. However, this peace was fleeting. On December 29, Mr. Latpate and Ms. Mahatme emailed the Board, announcing their decision to rescind their resignations.
As the agreement was signed by all those involved, on July 26th, the court dismissed the lawsuit in its entirety with prejudice, which included all claims and causes of action filed by all the parties.
Vegasdesi is committed to transparency and would like to disclose the following people mentioned in this article who have donated to the editor for his political campaigns over the past 12 years
- Shankar Dixit (Savita Chander’s Husband) – $250
- Gopinath Latpate – $2,000
- Ram G. Janga – $500
- Jagdish Mehta – $450
- Amratbhai Patel (Fergusons Motel) – $200
This is a developing news. The above article will be edited for additional pertinent information as and when available.
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I am in total shock and disbelief to read this article and if the information is correct , I think the community has all the rights to demand an explanation and justification from the board for this alleged withdrawal of temple funds to pay for legal expenses of individual board members and elected committee.
The Hindu and Jain community of Las Vegas has high interest in keeping and maintaining the serenity of the temple and services of temple priests to pursue spiritual and religious practices in Las Vegas our new home away from our homes in India.
Many of the Founders of this sacred place are present board members and why they have deviated from the original goals and objectives of establishing and maintaining a place of worship is beyond my imagination .
Why the board members can’t live in harmony and create on environment for temple to flurish is appalling.
Why individual agendas are entertained rather than focusing on the importance of the temple of worship.,?
Who authorizes legal action on behalf of the temple if there is any?
Why temple funds are used to pay for attorneys defending non temple interests?
How a single signature can be sufficient to withdraw such a large amount from a non profit entities?
Why treasure is in dark about temple finances?
I believe the temple is a community establishment and not a personal establishment of board members or executive committee members.
As a concerned community member, I’m speaking out on these issues. The community is unaware of Mandir’s financial situation due to missing reports. The Chairman Gopi Latpate signed a $150,000 check alone SERIOUSLY!, violating bylaws that require dual signatures. Tussi Great Ho!
The community wants to know who is actually managing the funds if Treasurer Deepa Vartakar can’t access the bank account. I feel sorry for her. It’s unfortunate that she is in a position where she cannot fulfill her responsibilities due to a lack of access and control.
Donors’ money is going to legal fees instead of community religious and spiritual goals. This is not acceptable, and it should come from the chairman’s pocket, not from the temple’s funds. Aaya bada Rajnikant!!
Community well-being should always come first. When Board members prioritize personal interests over established rules, it leads to conflict and harms the entire community. The Board must focus on the community’s needs, adhere to the rules, and maintain transparency and accountability. This approach is essential for ensuring unity and trust within the community.
The community deserves answers and accountability. The Board must publish regular financial reports, clarify financial control and access, and ensure transparency in financial management.
Disclaimer: The name used in this comment is not real and is protected to maintain privacy. ॐ Shambhu 🙏
The plaintiffs (Mr. Latpate and company) filed the frivolous lawsuit and wasted $200,000, about 70% of the Temple’s cash, and violated their lawful fiduciary duty. No wonder the case was dismissed by the judge. In addition, Gopi Latpate, by writing a check in violation of the arbitraged agreement, engaged in a criminal conduct. He and other officers of the temple involved in the crime should be punished to the fullest extant of the law. Also, the all of the trustees who have supported the plaintiffs should be held responsible for wasting Hindu community’s donations, and so answer to us. It is time a general body meeting is held immediately and all the Hindu devotees of Las Vegas community are fully informed of the status of the temple finances and future plans to correct the mess.
Hello Readers,
This is Gopi Latpate, Chairman of the Hindu Society of Las Vegas. We are currently addressing the allegations presented here in consultation with the temple counsel. These claims are baseless and have been selectively portrayed. Both this article and previous ones offer a one-sided perspective without a full understanding of the facts. I urge the community to refrain from forming any conclusions without knowing the entire context.
I am in discussions with the trustees, executive committee, and temple counsel, exploring the possibility of holding a town hall meeting to gather community input. We will provide further clarifications to the community soon. In the meantime, I request everyone to avoid any provocative reactions to ensure that harmony is maintained.
Thank you!
Seriously! You are going to waste more money ” in consultation with the temple counsel?” Why don’t you cooperate with other trustees, resolve issues, and not run to an attorney to waste community’s money? Defend yourself with your own money.
LATPATE : YOU ARE DESTROYING SANATAN DHARMA , TEMPLE , AND TRUST OF THE PEOPLE . BEST COURSE WOULD HAVE BEEN “DONOT WASTE A PENNY OF PEOPLE HARD EARNED MONEY OFFERED TO GOD” . YOU NEED A COURSE OF BHAGWAT GEETA . HOW DARE YOU TOUCH OUR MONEY?? YOU GOT 1 MILLION DOLLAR COMMISSION FROM COMMUNITY FOR YOUR OWN VENTURE AND DONATED $50k TO TEMPLE??? WHAT A SCAM ARTIST YOU ARE. YOU MUST BE IN PRIZON FOR EMBAZZLEMENT. DISTRICT ATTORNEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS YOUR FINANCIAL DEALINGS FOR LAST 20 YRS.
Just do us a favor and resign. We don’t need a leader like you and your so called group to be around the place of worship. We all know that nothing proactive will be done. Stop fooling everyone. Just Resign thats it. You dont deserve to be a leader.
Over the years, whenever, I heard about the infights in our Hindu-Jain temple, my immediate response has been that it is not to be concerned. Why at least two Hindus are sitting together for the welfare of the temple. Hindus are rarely seen working together- a consequence of our tragic history of the Hindus in India.
Bathinda is the oldest town in Punjab, but I never saw a Hindu temple there or in Delhi (built before 1947!). It was in 1987 that I saw the first Hindu temple in Trichi/Trichipalli.
My point is clear. We Hindus shall grow out unitedly and stronger after going through such tests and hurdles. Thanks Vegasdesi for sharing this report with public.
Really shocking to hear how temple funds are being misused.
Devotees donation, Priests Effort and Pooja should not be wasted on your ego issues and urge to control temple. Temple is devsthanam not asursthanam. You people are running temple like a cash cow. Shame on you. All the time temple is in legal tussle and issues.
Do not test patience of Hindu community of Las Vegas. Rudra roop lena chaiye community ko.
A perfect definition of MISUSE of FUNDS. What gives these 5 executive members and trustees the power to use funds this way. They should be sued.
Very shocking but not surprise at all what is going on with the mandir. I request all the general public to wake up and stop this non sense. We need to file a petition and fight for our temple. This egoistic board members needs to go asap
Gopi Latpate, Savita Dixit, Ujwalla Mahatme, Ranjit Jain, and Ram Janga.
Am a Regular at this temple, I am truly disheartened by all the commotion and flights among temple leaders. We have such a nice temple! Let us propagate the founding principles of Hinduism. There is so much work to be done to take our temple forward in a positive manner. I totally agree with the previous comments regarding getting rid of those board members. They are cancer. When one donates $$ towards the upkeep of the mandir and temple leaders wasting it towards unnecessary expenses is not ok. Like one comments says general public needs to come together and demand answers and help save our mandir.
This is definitely a miss use of the temple funds. Gopi ji this is not right and especially this a non profit organization not a corporation company. Community people pulls money from there pockets or volunteers devotes there Time. Gopi ji if the management was thinking about filing a Lawsuite the first question should be Who is paying for the cost. You were chosen to be and role model to do good for the Hindu and Jain Temple not filing Lawsuits from Temple Funds.
This is not acceptable to use temple funds for this please pull your own money to resolve the issue.
We need our Hindu temple to be open for the community.
Thank you
I am again shocked by this bad news about the Hindu and Jain Temple of Las Vegas not following Temple’s established By-Laws repeatedly.
In the last few years after Gopi Latpate, Savita Dixit and Ujwalla Mahatme (Here in referred as ‘Latpate Group’) have become the Trustees of Hindu and Jain Temple of Las Vegas, the community has seen nothing but the wasting and depletion of the Temple/Community funds. The Temple has been operating smoothly for 20 plus since its inception.
Miss use of the Temple money started with installation of artificial turf and concrete pads in 2023 at the cost of $200,000 plus amount with a promise to raise the funds and rental income from the usage. The project of this size was never presented, nor approval obtained from the community who owns the Temple. To date, no rental income has been generated or fund raised, or no money donated by Latpate Group.
Then there was the Temple Executive Committee Board election early this year. The election days were changed by the Latpate Group, and it did not follow the Temple By-Laws. The Latpate Group was sued by the senior trustees and the Latpate Group counter sued them. This is the dispute between two groups of trustees. It was not a lawsuit to protect the Temple interest from an outside entity.
Moreover, Mr. Latpate signed a check to pay for their attorney’s fees without getting second signature of the President as established by the Board and that is complete white-collar thievery of public money – Community donations, collected priest services fees etc. The Temple treasury will be empty soon and the temple doors will be closed forever.
This act of miss using public money in few hundred thousand dollars should be punished by the Judge by ordering Latpate Group to repay the money to the Temple, pay additional penalty and forced to resign from the Temple organization.
Before any community gathering, first return the money to the Temple.
MR LATPATE A NEW ENTRY TO VEGAS APPEARS TO BE SCAM ARTIST. HE RAISED 10 MILLION DOLLARS FROM BOARD MEMBERS FOR HIS OWN START UP COMPANY. HE GOT 10% COMMISSION ( 1 MILLION DOLLAR ) AND OUT OF ONE MILLION COMMISSION – LATPATE DONATED 50,000 DOLLARS TO THE TEMPLE. THE WORST IS – HE GOT SUPPORT FROM SPECIFIC COMMUNITY. MR JAIN IS MORE INTERESTED IN PRESERVING THE NAME PLATE OF HIS SON. WHAT A SHAME??? THERE IS A NEED FOR ALL VOLUNTEER TO PASS EXAM OF SANATAN DHARMA OR BHAGWAT GEETA ATLEAST T–THIS INCLUDES BOARD MEMBERS. JUST BECAUSE OF MONEY – ONE CANNOT BE IN BOARD. LATPATE BANKRUPTED TEMPLE BY GIVING AWAY $152 k CHECK TO ATTORNEY. THIS IS EMBEZZLEMENT.
This people (Gopi and his group) created big mass. This people Hindu’s name in the society. This not the way to spend Mandir donation. please solve this mass.
Excellent publication -with clarity about the temple. This is the only center for spiritual center, dharmic center, cultural center for Sanatani (hindu,sikh,jain) people . It is said ” when a war happens for the control of GOD?temple – Devas leave the placeof worship. We visit temple to pay ” gratitude not beg ” are disturbed to know that custonian have stabbed the principle of “sanatan dharma”. This is home away from home- unity is the first condition for community. Latpate must return the funds spent for legal fees without board aproval and two signatures.
SHAME .Chairman is giving explanations, using WhatsApp and other social Media.
Never explained the Basic Question DID YOU PAID MORE THAN $150000 TO LEGAL COUNSEL USING DONATIONS RECEIVED FROM COMMUNITY?
THE DAY YOU JOINED TEMPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ARE WASTED WETHER ON ARTIFICIAL GRASS,STRUCTURE AROUND TEMPLE AND OTHERWASTEFUL EXPENDITURES.
LOOKS LIKE YOUR AIM IS TO PUSH TEMPLE TOWARDS BANKRUPTY
NEED YOUR EXPLANATION
Am shocked by this bad news about the Hindu and Jain Temple of Las Vegas.
I urge the whole Las Vegas Hindu community to please come forward and boycott Gopi Latpate, Savita Dixit and Ujwalla Mahatme and master mind Ram Jagga ie the Latpate Group.
We need to come together and sign a petition and request all the trustees to please take this issue seriously and wake up. It’s about time.
Both Pandit jis work very hard to bring in income for the temple, but
Latpate Group feels like they can do anything and feels entitlement. They need to turn in there regisnation asap.
Misuse of mandirs funds were used to play dirty politics. why are we still tolerating this monkeys. We request that Gopi Latpate, Savita Dixit, Ujwalla Mahatme and Ram Janga to turn in there resignation immediately. I urge the public to please come forward and demand change.