The investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations offered at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya gathered political momentum on Friday, with the Uttar Pradesh government promising strict action against those found guilty, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) insisting that no one would be spared, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal arriving in the temple town amid the controversy.
The case has triggered a political exchange after an FIR was registered in connection with the alleged misappropriation of temple donations. The Uttar Pradesh government has already set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. The VHP, meanwhile, says the investigation will not stop with those named in the FIR.
UP government says guilty will face strict action
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said the state government was treating the matter with seriousness and had already initiated legal proceedings.
“The government has taken the entire matter seriously. An FIR has been registered. Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty,” Pathak told ANI.
The FIR was registered on June 25 under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 and 3(5), on the directions of the Uttar Pradesh government.
According to officials, those named in the FIR include Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinnu Yadav and Manish Yadav, along with others.
The case stems from allegations made by former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey, who claimed that donations worth between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore received at the Ram Mandir had been misappropriated.
VHP says investigation will cover everyone
Responding to questions over why Ram Janmabhoomi Trust General Secretary Champat Rai was not named in the FIR, VHP president Alok Kumar said the investigation was not confined to the individuals specifically mentioned in the complaint.
“What does that accomplish? They are not outside the investigation; they will also be investigated,” Kumar said.
He said the FIR had been registered on the basis of the preliminary findings of the SIT and pointed out that it also referred to “other unidentified persons.”
“No fish is free from investigation. No one is being saved. We expect the police to investigate everyone. Senior officers should investigate, and it should be done within a time-bound limit, so that a decision can be reached quickly, and the process of sending these people to jail can be expedited,” he said.
Kumar also said the Trust had itself requested the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute an SIT after the allegations surfaced.
BJP defends government’s response
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma said the Trust acted before the Opposition raised questions and defended the government’s handling of the case.
“Even before the opposition could have said what they are saying, the trust itself filed its own FIR. An SIT was formed. Eight people were arrested. The opposition has no issues left. There couldn’t have been a fairer and more transparent action than what the government is carrying out,” he said.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Police, all eight accused were arrested on Thursday, hours after the FIR was registered following the SIT’s preliminary inquiry.
Kejriwal visits Ram Temple amid controversy
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal reached Ayodhya on Friday and is scheduled to offer prayers at the Ram Temple.
He was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and party workers, who raised slogans against the BJP government.
Asked about his visit, Kejriwal told reporters, “We are going for darshan.”
The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team on June 14 to investigate the alleged irregularities in temple donations following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust.
The FIR registered on June 25 followed the preliminary inquiry conducted by the SIT.