Ayodhya MP Demands SC Monitored Probe Into Ram Mandir Donation Theft Case

The political atmosphere in Ayodhya has intensified following the recent revelations regarding the theft of donations at the Ram Mandir. Ayodhya Member of Parliament and Samajwadi Party leader Awadhesh Prasad has formally demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court. He urged the apex court to take suo motu cognizance of the case and constitute a dedicated committee to investigate the scale of the alleged irregularities, while this demand comes in the wake of the resignations of Champat Rai, the General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and Trustee Anil Mishra.

National Significance of the Case

Reacting to the resignations and the ongoing investigation, Awadhesh Prasad emphasized that this isn't a minor incident. He stated that the matter isn't limited to a single state but concerns the entire nation, as devotees from across the country visit the temple of Lord Shri Ram, while he further characterized the incident not just as a simple theft but as a dacoity, reflecting the gravity of the situation. Prasad noted that his party and leader Akhilesh Yadav were the ones to highlight this issue, leading to the demand for a high-level judicial probe.

Criticism of Trust Officials

The SP MP also targeted Champat Rai, stating that he should have resigned as soon as the investigation began or even earlier when reports of irregularities first surfaced. According to Prasad, the integrity of the trust is at stake, and a transparent investigation is the only way to restore public trust. He reiterated that the Supreme Court must intervene to ensure that the investigation is impartial and comprehensive.

Akhilesh Yadav Attacks BJP

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through social media. In a post on X, he referred to the incident as the BJP's Lanka Kand occurring in Ayodhya itself. He remarked that the divine power of the Lord has shown its miracle, signaling the end of an empire built on arrogance, while in another post, Yadav questioned the integrity of the administration, alleging that greed has blinded those in power. He criticized the discrepancies in the counting of donations, the weighing of gold and silver, and the theft of jewelry, describing it as a deep darkness of corruption emerging from beneath the lamp.

SIT Investigation and Arrests

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has made significant progress in the case following the registration of an FIR, while all 8 accused individuals have been arrested and sent to jail. During the court proceedings, the police informed the court that preliminary investigations have yielded substantial evidence of theft against all the accused. So far, the SIT has recovered approximately 79 lakh 84 thousand rupees from 7 out of the 8 accused. The investigation involved a meticulous review of CCTV footage from April 27 to June 5. During these 45 days, the accused were reportedly caught on camera committing theft 70 times. The court is scheduled to hold further hearings on the matter this Monday.