In a development that will have little impact on Tuesday’s South Carolina gubernatorial race – but which could possibly have far-reaching implications beyond it – sources tell FITS that they have discovered another hornet’s nest of tax problems tied to S.C. Rep. Nikki Haley.
These alleged issues revolve around the Sikh Religious Society of South Carolina – which operates the temple where Haley’s parents, Dr. Ajit S. “Doc” Randhawa and Raj Randhawa worship on Sundays (and where Haley was recently photographed attending a family wedding).
According to sources and documents made available exclusively to FITS, the temple has a history of accounting problems including failing to pay contractors and possibly even providing donors with fraudulent tax receipts for cash contributions. Who keeps the books for the temple? Multiple sources point the finger at Haley – who prior to a slew of recent tax problems liked to boast of her skills as an accountant for her family business.
“I know I’m the right person to go into this next position because I’m an accountant, who knows what it means to stretch a dollar,” Haley has repeatedly stated.
In fact, several congregation members who spoke with FITS on condition of anonymity say that they learned of Haley’s alleged involvement with the temple’s books directly from her father – who until two weeks ago was personally collecting donations to pay for a new temple.
FITS attempted to contact the Sikh Religious Society of South Carolina regarding who is responsible for its financial books but the group’s telephone number has been disconnected. Also the organization’s website, CarolinaSikhs.org, has been pulled down. Reached via cell phone, Harmit Singh – the temple priest – refused to confirm or deny reports that Haley has served as the organization’s bookkeeper.
According to Richland County court filings the temple has been sued four times since March 2010 – including actions to foreclose and alleged debts totalling $116,000. In a court filing dated October 15, 2010, the temple was given a twenty-day notice of an impending lawsuit regarding a lien placed on its property by Hardaway Concrete Company – one of several contractors that is suing the temple for non-payment of invoices.
According to Haley’s father, however, the new temple project is progressing according to plan.
“Roof work is completed and Domes with Finials mounted,” Ajit Randhawa informed the congregation in a newsletter published on the same day the Hardaway Concrete notice was filed in Richland County court. “Plumbing work has started.”
The newsletter also reports September 2010 deposits in the temple’s “construction account” of $8,831.00 along with an interest payment to BB&T of $4,109.16.
Until October, contributions earmarked for the project were sent directly to Ajit Randhawa’s residence, however the congregation is now being asked to “make a deposit direct to BB&T” and “call your friends and relatives to donate.”
Speaking of donations, one of the sources we spoke with told us that Randhawa has a history of providing donors with tax receipts that are in excess of cash contributions made to the organization – which if true would be highly illegal.
Clearly, though, Randhawa is not leveling with his congregation about the temple’s outstanding debts – nor is he being honest with them about the size of the loan.
Documents obtained by FITS show that in May of 2009, the temple took out a $750,000 loan with BB&T – although Randhawa has told the congregation on multiple occasions (most recently in the October 15 newsletter) that the loan was for $700,000.
When one congregation member asked about this discrepancy, Randhawa reportedly told them that he would have to “check with Nikki,” who in addition to her rumored work as the society’s accountant was also a member of its board of trustees at one time.
Haley was raised as a Sikh, but joined a Methodist church after marrying her husband, Michael Haley.
Numerous congregation members are unhappy with the Randhawa’s – and Nikki Haley. In fact, Haley’s alleged accounting work has reportedly been so shoddy that when the temple sought the loan, several members of the congregation requested that an outside bookkeeper be brought in to manage its proceeds.
If true, this obviously wouldn’t be the first time that Haley has fumbled work for her family.
In September, records published by the Associated Press revealed that Haley’s family business has been penalized three times over the last six years for failing to pay its corporate income taxes on time (and failing to turn over taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks). The company – owned by her parents – has also been late paying property taxes. Meanwhile, Haley and her husband have also repeatedly failed to pay their income taxes on time – and were late paying their property taxes on at least one occasion.
***
By Patrick November 1, 2010 at 1:16 pm
What kind of Governor will Ken Ard make?
By Fred November 1, 2010 at 1:23 pm
They pulled the website because there was a pic of Nicki and Michael (before bust-up) greeting people @ the front door on the Sikh Society website.
Hard to be a Methodist when you are greeting the Sikh’s at the front door of the Temple.
Fred
By Fred November 1, 2010 at 1:25 pm
…but hell, we believe everything else the snake oil salesman is selling us, so why not have faith in the fact that Nicki Haley is a committed Methodist.
..sure she would not change religions on paper for her Presidential run, huh???
By SCBoy November 1, 2010 at 1:44 pm
You guys will still remain the laughing stock in America. Louisiana and NJ have given that title up. SC will be running to the polls tomorrow to claim the title.
Haley is the most incompetent person running for office in this election any where in US. Believe it or not, she is even worse than O’Donnell and Palladino. O’Donnell was very good at her job of promoting Christian values, such as evolution, masturbation, etc. Look how much she was on TV promoting such values.
Palladino in NY is a very successful real estate contractor in Buffalo.
What has Haley been good at? For the temple’s sake, she better win, otherwise she will be back doing accounting work for them.
By esquiress November 1, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Will Folks, your book is going to be a whalloping stunner. You have so much material, that we already have glimpses of, to flesh out or explode. This is another powder keg in the host of other stories. What is interesting is that we have no idea of your full arsenal.
Does Ms. Haley know what is coming?
Can we preorder your book through Amazon.com?
Are you going to charge USC $15,000 when you go speak to the students about your book?
Thanks for making each day a little more intersting.
By Longtime Republican November 1, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Another sleeper like Obama.
By Samuel November 1, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Ken Ard would make a terrible governor. When asked about what he would do to help health issues for seniors all he could say was that he would encourage them to run. Really? 5K’s? On the other hand, Ashley Cooper actually answered the question with some merit. Take a look.
http://www.wmbfnews.com/category/195966/video-landing-page?clipId=5190306&flvUri=&partnerclipid=&topVideoCatNo=109086&c=&autoStart=true&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv
By Lewis November 1, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Fred: That Hanson guy posted pics of Haley’s husband standing by his wife in Greenville this past week. Hugging the son and daughter and all looking in most adoreable manner at Nikki snuggled in between Henry McMaster (now letting his gray hair grow back) and Katon Dawson, who was justa grinning.
By Gary November 1, 2010 at 2:18 pm
This is a classic rumor mongering and hearsay designed to drag in Nikki Haley’s name and continue your desperate game of slander to advance your agenda.
Even in your own story NONE of the so called “ANONYMOUS” congregation members has mentioned that Haley did any accounting work for the temple which she has visited rarely on special festive days. It is a shame that that you have stooped so low and continue to your spew this unending baseless venom.
What have the affairs of temple ( your account by the way may not be even true) got to do with any thing with Haley’s ability to be the governor? She has never been the accountant for the temple. Also as has been told many times, that it is the cash flow problems which caused the late payment of taxes in her business and NOT the accounting skills or book keeping skills.But the lie continues to be repeated again and again and again.
This latest post could have easily come from the racists goons who continue to remind voters that Haley is a not a Christian/or white or American.
By Doris November 1, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Anybody seen Jakie?
Pingback: From FITSNews, More “Haleynomics?” | The Real Nikki
By bob November 1, 2010 at 2:31 pm
SCBoy,
Haley is not the most incompetent in the race, that title belongs to Morgan Reeves. You should just try to carry on a conversation with the guy, much less a business transaction with the guy. The whole Haley thing really is a shame, Reeves ranks right up there with Alvin Green in terms of pure stupidity, and all the Haley BS is taking away from at least 30 minutes to an hour per week of late night TV coverage that Reeves would otherwise get.
By Fred November 1, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Gary:
The problem is that Nicki Haley will not tell us who she is and what she has done. You are correct, more accusations and innuendo’s have popped up about her than any other candidate in recent memory, but this is because she from the get-go has NOT been transparent and has NOT been truthful about her past.
This fact forces us to dig it up on our own. Any good candidate knows to get your dirt out early under your watch so you can have a hand in controlling it.
Continue to close your eyes and ears and convince yourself that we are wrong and you are right about Haley. I did that, as a Dem, with Obama 2 years ago and look where it got me. BTW, you were right about Obama.
Fred
By Alabaster II November 1, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Thought Mark was going to take today off like he did the day before the June Primary Election.
Wonder what the Sanfords think about all these allegations about Nikki. The silence is really deafening.
By so much for family values (again) November 1, 2010 at 3:01 pm
she’ll balance the budget by just not paying any bills
By confused in lexington November 1, 2010 at 3:05 pm
If there is any truth to the article above, there will most likely be prison sentences. Choose your attorney general carefully.
By Dakota November 1, 2010 at 3:11 pm
This is a damn nightmare with no end in sight.
By esquiress November 1, 2010 at 3:23 pm
If Haley was doing the accounting or bookwork for the temple, I wonder if she was getting paid for it. If she was getting paid, I wonder if taxes were taken out of her check or if it was “under the radar”. If she was getting it “under the radar”, I wonder if she declared the income on her tax filing (when she finally did get around to filing.
By Gene J November 1, 2010 at 3:40 pm
If that fucking picture is not enought to scare people away from Haley I dont know what is jeez!!
By ceilidh10 November 1, 2010 at 3:45 pm
The people who vote the little sexy Indian into offgicer tomorrow and she will screw the Average Joe over like every other Republican.
Maybe being 50th in everything is another way of saying last in line for IQ or intelligence.
The rich get richer, the poor and midddle class vote Republican.
SC will never rise above the herd until we have a 2 party system.
What other stunts will this brown cracker pull?
By JC November 1, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Fred, Nookie is a kool-aid peddler. A successful one at that. As for what she’s done, that’s easy. Nothing. Nadda. Zip. Zero. Unless you count who-can-wash-your-hair legislation. On the other hand, there’s plenty she HAS done, that she won’t talk about, skirts around, or simply lies about. And when she becomes governor this pitiful backwoods, time-warped excuse for a state will continue to get what it votes for, if not what it soundly deserves.
By Gary November 1, 2010 at 4:02 pm
I just spoke to a Sikh acquittance of mine who is a gas station owner in this area and who attends the temple that is the subject of this post. He laughed at the charges that Ajit Randhawa was asking the members to send donations to his home. He explained that most donations are left by devotees when they bow before the holy book. Other donations are are left with the cashier who is present at the entrance and a printed receipt is issued immediately. Nikki Haley is not a member of the temple, does not do the books of the temple and rarely visits the temple on special occasions.
He also ridiculed the suggestion that that there is some dispute going on in terms of temple finances. Regarding the so called lien by a construction company, he thinks it was perhaps quality dispute, but he was not sure because he is not member of the construction committee.
By confused in lexington November 1, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Gary, what have you been smoking? Obviously a drug which causes disillusionment.
By NormalSCcitizen November 1, 2010 at 4:18 pm
RE-POST
I called Haley’s campaign to ask questions about why Haley will not clear her name and produce a sworn affidavit denying accusations of adultery, what Haley’s ads calling Sheheen a “Columbia Insider” means, why her ads blasting Sheheen for being an attorney were aired, What legislation has she “authored” or written & passed other than the bill concerning a non-licensed cosmetologist being able to shampoo hair, along with at least 10 other questions concerning skeletons in her closet. The intern was obviously reading from script and he informed me that he could not answer any of those questions. He deflected my questions and he gave me the same answer Haley gives everyone, except he did at least acknowledge my questions. I also asked Haley’s intern why her husband is never seen with her and why she never acknowledges her husband when out in public. When thanking people she never thanks her husband. Mr. Sheheen is always seen with his wife and he thanks and praises her for hr support every chance he gets. When I called Sheheen’s campaign to press them on tough issues, I was not at all turned away and my questions were answered, even if I did not agree will all of them(I did agree with 11 out of 12 answers I got). I was undecided until late this afternoon, but after contacting both campaigns and researching both candidates in depth, I am going to vote for Vincent Sheheen. He is clearly the best candidate for Governor and Nikki Haley is a disaster waiting to further tarnish our great state. After researching both candidates, I have come to the conclusion that Haley is running for Gov. to further her notoriety, become more popular and fatten her pockets and bring more money to her family business. I truly feel that Vincent Sheheen is running for Gov. to help SC citizens and make our state great again. He respects the ofice of governor and he is will not make a mockery of it like I believe Haley would do. When a large number of your own political party endorses your opponent, as most SC republican officials do, you have serious problems. Electing Haley as governor would be the equivalent to committing political suicide for the state of SC. I never care much about politics, but after seeing how truly incompetent Nikki Haley, I thought I should do as much as possible to get Mr. Sheheen elected b/c I love this state and I want what is best for it and future South Carolinians.
By esquiress November 1, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Did your gas station guy tell you why the phone is disconnected and the web site is down?
By esquiress November 1, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Another question – if Haley is not “doing” the books for the temple, wouldn’t the temple priest just simply say she wasn’t and that would be the end of the story. Why did he refuse to etiher deny or confirm? He must have gotten that tactic from the Haley Handbook – that is what she does when she doesn’t want to tell the truth.
By snakeMD November 1, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Do they teach paragraph indentation in Camden?
By confused in lexington November 1, 2010 at 4:55 pm
The Haley die-hards do not want to hear the truth. Sadly, they will be so disappointed if she is elected. Again, I will say…be careful what you wish for…you might just get it!
By Tom Stickler November 1, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Start the countdown clock now for when “Buyers’ Remorse” hits in South Carolina and nationally.
By eggaday November 1, 2010 at 6:45 pm
hey tom, it ain’t gonna take long to get that buyer’s remorse
By seriously? November 1, 2010 at 6:56 pm
And folks around here wonder why we are the freaking laughing stock of the nation.
By Step to the Right November 1, 2010 at 7:11 pm
I have no expectation about Haley except she is NOT a Democrat. If she is a loser we will defeat her in 4 years or she will resign in disgrace. Both are better options than socialism, big government, union control of every sector of business and education and any version of government defined by Sheheen.
By esquiress November 1, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Step to the Right,
you have no clue what you are talking about.
By Charlie Speight November 1, 2010 at 8:07 pm
What would FITS posts look like if Haley were African-American or Asian or a Democrat. Oh yeah, he doesn’t write about Democrats.
By fitsnews November 1, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Charlie,
We don’t write about Democrats? What about these posts?
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/10/11/sheheens-taxpayer-funded-gravy-train/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/10/01/three-debates-but-why/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/09/16/duh-vincent/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/09/14/sheheen-endorsed-by-rex/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/08/20/sheheens-education-funding-problem/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/08/18/sheheen-on-education-same-old-song/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/08/13/sheheens-payday-problem/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/07/28/defining-sheheen/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/06/11/is-sheheen-really-all-that-for-sc-dems/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/03/08/vanilla-sheheen/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/01/17/vincent-sheheen-owned-i-his-own-words/
On top of that, here are two stories that we BROKE on Sheheen that are serving as the basis of Rep. Haley’s attacks against him.
http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/26/fitsnews-exclusive-another-lawyer-legislator-shakedown/
http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/10/26/fitsnews-exclusive-pigs-at-the-personal-injury-lawyer-trough/
-FITS
By Scooter November 1, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Please, somebody arrest that woman. There many issues at hand that seem to be illegal. Stop looking away, and put her much seen ass in jail.
By proudofsc November 1, 2010 at 8:39 pm
A warrant has been signed for Cahalay’s arrest. Supposedly, he has skipped the state. Republicans are trying to keep it quiet.
Leave a Reply
By Palmetto November 1, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Charlie Speight just got owned
By Yowzer November 1, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I live close to the temple and there has been no more work there in several weeks. If there was no problem they would finish this POS…. It does not fit in with the rural area where it is located. Obviously there are problems but who is telling the truth?? I for one will vote for Sheheen because I am scared of what Haley will do to SC.
By ed rollins November 1, 2010 at 9:19 pm
4 different contractors have filed liens against property.
a mechanics lien has to be filed within 90 days if contractor
wants to get his money. so for Smith Shealy Steel 3.12.10,
Capital Concrete 5.14.10 , Hardaway Concrete 10.15.10 ,
Alpha Omega Construction Group 10.25.10.
Maybe after election haley will contribute her excess campaign
contributions to the Temple
By Conservative1 November 1, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Haley – 52
Sheheen – 48
Folks – 0
By confused in lexington November 1, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Vote safe, vote Sheheen. Haley will bring you down, and you know it. Leave it.
By Fred November 1, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Vote tomorrow for Sheheen.
Lets shut Haley and her traveling carnival of a family down!
Call your friends and family and encourage them to do the same.
Fred
By Anon November 2, 2010 at 12:01 am
Biased News !!!
Vote Haley !!
By Lannie November 2, 2010 at 1:41 am
Don’t they sacrifice goats in there?
By Soft Sigh from Hell November 2, 2010 at 7:30 am
“It does not fit in with the rural area where it is located.”
That glaring oddity of a Mormon temple in Richland northeast is out of place too. Scratch Romney from my voting consideration.
By quiet voice of reason November 2, 2010 at 8:33 am
Hey Anon—
Why is it that some people, when presented with multiple cases of questions, simply blame the media? Let’s take even HALF of what has been printed about Haley as fact — just half — and it’s far too much for me to think about her as an honorable candidate.
People with nothing to hide don’t make the front page day after day for failing to answer questions. Like others, I have called and sent emails with just basic questions. I have not ever received a response. No one I know has received a response from her, and she does not usually take questions if you see her at an event. Is this really what we want?
For people to think she will bring honor or accountability to this state is just way over the edge of ignorance.
By Huhhh??? November 2, 2010 at 9:16 am
Nikki and her family give immigrants a bad name.
By conservative November 2, 2010 at 9:43 am
Who steals from their church? Really!
By Catherine November 2, 2010 at 10:24 am
If this state really does elect this lying slut into the office of Gov today, then all I have to say is that South Carolina must LOVE punching itself in the face.
By Scooter November 2, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Fred, good piece of advice. Loved the comment.
By Charlie Speight November 2, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Will, there you go again. Just looking at the anemic number of Sheheen posts compared to the torrent of anti-Haley articles makes your response laughable. EIGHT Sheheen “posts” since the primaries? One of them is actually about both Sheheen AND Haley, one is mostly about the school system and in at least two of the others, you take shots at Haley! As for the other two you offer, you had to go back three years. Three years?
“Owned,” Palmetto? You have an odd understanding of ownership.
By jimmy March 22, 2011 at 9:32 pm
christianity is an evil religion; christians worship jesus christ who was the son of the devil