Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj blamed temple administration assistant Gopal Rao for the controversy surrounding the alleged Ram Mandir donation misappropriation case, accusing him of politicizing the issue and asserting that the “entire fault” lies with him. Rao’s role in overseeing temple operations and managing donations has been under scrutiny.
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Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj alleged that Gopal Rao created unnecessary complications and deviated from the tradition followed by the institution.
Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj said, “Gopal Rao often complicates matters for everyone. Our secretaries in Uttar Pradesh follow the tradition of Ram, while Gopal Rao does not even subscribe to this tradition… The entire fault lies with Gopal; he is playing politics.”
His remarks come amid an ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged misappropriation of donations received by the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a case that has sparked sharp political exchanges between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition.
Meanwhile, Prakash Gupta, office bearer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, stressed that the investigation must ensure that the guilty are punished while protecting innocent individuals from being unnecessarily implicated.
“My point is simple: The guilty should not go free, and no innocent person should be implicated. Some people are dragged into this without having any connection at all, and yet the SIT picks everyone up. Naturally, people will react. I know some individuals used to work there selflessly, but you know how it is, if you are caught in the middle of it, you will end up being labeled a thief as well,” Gupta told ANI.
He added that judicial proceedings will continue according to legal procedures after the arrests in the case.
“Once someone is arrested, they have to be sent to jail. When the court fixes a date, a hearing has to be held. Whether it is a live appearance or via video conferencing, the proceedings have to take place. Nowadays, video conferencing has become common; they do not physically move people if there are security concerns. The court handles the matter through conferences,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary denied the allegations made by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over alleged misappropriation of donations, saying the opposition is indulging in politics over the Ram Mandir issue. He stressed that the SIT investigation will continue impartially and no one found guilty will be spared.
The controversy intensified after Akhilesh Yadav alleged irregularities in donations to Ram Mandir, prompting the BJP to defend the ongoing probe. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra said that an FIR has already been registered and eight people have been arrested in connection with the case, asserting that those responsible will face strict legal action. An SIT investigation into the alleged financial irregularities is currently underway.
