An FIR has been lodged in connection with the alleged misappropriation of donations at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The case was filed on the basis of a complaint from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Foundation.
The registration of the case comes amid an ongoing investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on the recommendations of the Temple Trust.
Allegations of misappropriation of donations received at the Ayodhya Ram Temple surfaced earlier this month, following which a special investigation team was formed. According to the news agency PTIThe special investigation team comprises Lucknow District Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Ministry Special Secretary Neil Ratan.
What is controversy?
Donations to the Ram temple have recently attracted increased focus following allegations of misappropriation of millions of rupees donated by devotees.
The controversy first came to light after the Samajwadi MLA claimed that between $7 Crores $Rs 7.5 crore donations were stolen and several other opposition leaders later joined the chorus.
Amid questions over the handling of temple funds, the case soon took a legal turn with a lawyer filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on June 12, alleging that he had lodged representations with the Ram Temple Trust a few days earlier. Days after the petition filed by advocate Mohit Ashok, the UP government formed a special investigation committee to probe the allegations.
According to the news agency that IA new petition has been filed with the Supreme Court demanding a court-monitored investigation into these allegations. The petition also seeks a CBI investigation into the case.
“Ram’s sandals, garlands and lamps were stolen.”
Controversy over the alleged embezzlement is escalating. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made major allegations, saying that sandals, jewellery, garlands and lamps donated to Lord Ram were stolen from the temple. “Diamonds and precious stones offered by devotees to God have been stolen. $200 crore cash was stolen and even 200 kg silver was stolen.”
He also dismissed the Special Investigation Committee probing the Ram temple donation scam as an eyewash and legally invalid.
Earlier in the day, AAP MP Sanjay Singh appeared before the Special Investigation Team and submitted documents that he claimed contained evidence of corruption.
