The RSS has asked investigators to examine the allegations made by opposition leaders and take necessary action if they are found to be baseless.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has asked the Ayodhya police to record the statements of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition leaders on their public allegations in the Ram Janmabhoomi temple donation misappropriation case.
In a letter dated July 4 to Ayodhya Deputy Inspector of Police Ashutosh Tiwari, the investigating officer, VHP International chief Alok Kumar, asked the police to summon the leaders, record their statements and search for facts, sources and documents to support their allegations.
Kumar said the leaders made specific allegations about circulation on TV channels, social media and other platforms. “The allegations made by the above and other persons lead one to believe that they are aware of the facts and circumstances of the case,” the letter said.
Read also | Ram Temple Probe: SIT probe maps pilgrims’ impacts on bank deposits
The investigating officer was asked to inform the commanders to explain the basis of their allegations, disclose the source of their information, and provide any documents or other evidence to support their allegations.
What the leaders claimed
Kumar cited several public statements to justify his request. According to the letter, Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the robbers had robbed him $200 crore cash from the Ram temple along with Lord Ram’s garland, charan paduka, jewellery, diamonds, silver bricks, lamps and other valuables.
Kejriwal also allegedly claimed that “jewellery bags worth crores of rupees were stolen from the Ram temple in Ayodhya” and questioned the silence of the Uttar Pradesh Police, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He said a fair investigation could bring down the government, according to the letter.
The letter said that Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav allegedly claimed A $20,000 crore scam, claiming that cash, gold, silver and other valuables donated by devotees have disappeared.
He also claimed that not only junior staff and Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth general secretary Kshetra Champat Rai were involved, but also several influential people.
Kumar also cited AAP Rajya Sabha member, Sanjay Singh, who alleged that more than $Rs 200 crore was stolen from the temple’s donation boxes and more than 50 employees were involved.
He explained that Singh had already appeared before the SIT and submitted documents relating to separate allegations of inflated land purchases, which the VHP had not referred to.
The letter also cited Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who questioned whether junior staff alone could have turned off the CCTV cameras and carried out the alleged embezzlement involving millions of rupees, or whether influential people were involved.
Read also | UP Police seeks to book the accused in the Ram temple donation case, and is investigating the money trail
VHP seeks to take action if allegations lack evidence
The RSS-affiliated outfit has asked investigators to examine the allegations made by opposition leaders and take necessary action if they are found to have made baseless allegations aimed at creating “hatred, ill will and enmity”.
According to the VHP, if allegations are supported by credible evidence, they should assist in the investigation. If not, police should consider legal action permissible under the law against those who made what it described as “wild allegations”.
The meeting shifted to Delhi
The letter comes at a time when the VHP has moved its upcoming central management committee meeting from Ayodhya to New Delhi amid the embezzlement case, HT reported earlier.
The meeting is now scheduled to be held in Delhi on July 18-19 instead of the previous scheduled date of June 25-29 in Ayodhya. Uncertainty also surrounds the involvement of senior VHP leader Champat Rai, who resigned as General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust amid the controversy.
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