Mahakal online pass: Pilgrims beware of unscrupulous 'middlemen'!

UJJAIN: If you are planning to attend the famous 'bhasma arti' of Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, and need an online entry pass for the same, beware as you might be conned. If sources are to be believed, some 'middlemen' have been allegedly misusing the online pass generation facility to make money at the cost of pilgrims' rights. The temple authorities, however, seem to be reluctant in taking any stringent action.
The temple website mahakaleshwartemple.org provides free of cost entry passes for the 'bhasma arti', which takes place at 4am every day. Scanned copy of identity and mobile number is required for submission of the online form and an OTP (one time password) is generated to complete the process.
During scrutinizing, the IT cell of the temple was shocked to notice hundreds of passes being generated from particular 10-15 mobile numbers and IDs. Sources said some computer kiosks in the vicinity of temple misuse the facility by making 'false' bookings through documents and mobile numbers available with them. Pilgrims, on finding all the passes booked, approach these ?middlemen', where they are demanded as high as Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per pass. The culprits first cancel the false bookings so as to create vacancy and simultaneously fill entry form for the prospective pilgrims from another computer.
Temple administrator Jayant Joshi said identified mobile numbers from which repeated bookings were being made have been blocked. IT cell is keeping a close watch on their activity.