The Supreme Court will hear on July 13 the demand for an independent investigation into the alleged financial scam in the Ram Mandir Trust. At the same time, the member of the trust has rejected the news of blocking the VIP pass ID of Champat Rai and others. SIT investigation has found clues of cash theft.
Hearing in Supreme Court on July 13
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [भारत]July 10 (ANI): The Supreme Court will hear on July 13 petitions seeking an independent probe into alleged financial irregularities at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya. These petitions are listed for hearing before the bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
Trust rejects news of blocking VIP pass
Meanwhile, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj has refuted reports that the trust has blocked the VIP darshan pass IDs of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao. He confirmed that the passes were indeed being issued using Champat Rai’s ID. “There is no problem as of now. It is still in place. I don’t have any further information other than that; the existing arrangement is still in place,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday, Dinendra Das had expressed his full confidence in the Uttar Pradesh Police and administration. His statement came as Ayodhya police began custodial interrogation of Anukalp Mishra, one of the three main accused in the case. Speaking to ANI, Mahant Dinendra Das dismissed concerns over the security and management of donations and insisted that operations are unaffected.
He said, “We have faith in Ram Lalla, and the Chief Minister and the administration are fully aware and involved. We have full faith in the police; they are doing their duty. They will catch the thieves by all means and also punish them.”
SIT investigation reveals serious security lapses
The alleged embezzlement has sparked a heated political controversy in Uttar Pradesh, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the irregularities. The preliminary investigation by the SIT has pointed to serious lapses in security in the counting room of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The employees here allegedly hid bundles of cash in their clothes, pockets, shoes and other personal belongings, the investigation said. The investigation also revealed that the alleged theft was “systematic” and repeated, and not an isolated incident.
According to the SIT, the CCTV footage examined between April 27 and June 5 captured around 70 suspicious incidents of alleged hiding of bundles of cash by counting staff. The SIT’s initial findings have pointed to lapses in security protocols. It added that “there were no frisking of staff at the entry and exit points of the counting hall, and there was also poor monitoring of personal belongings carried in and out by staff.”
While opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, have demanded accountability from the state government, CM Adityanath has repeatedly promised strict action against anyone found guilty of misusing temple funds. (ANI)
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