An FIR has been officially registered concerning the alleged misappropriation of donations received at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. This development follows a recommendation from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was constituted to investigate the matter.
SIT Investigation Initiated by Temple Trust
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had initially approached the Uttar Pradesh government after allegations of irregularities in donations surfaced. Consequently, the state government formed the SIT on June 13 to probe these claims. The FIR was registered based on initial facts uncovered during this investigation, though the SIT continues to gather further evidence.
Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant submitted the SIT's preliminary inquiry report to Additional Chief Secretary for Home Sanjay Prasad. While the report's findings remain confidential at this stage, Pant indicated that the SIT aims to submit its final report within the next 10 to 15 days.
VHP Calls for Swift Justice
Amidst the ongoing probe, Alok Kumar, the International President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), publicly demanded the registration of an FIR and called for the investigation to be completed within four months. Kumar emphasized the need for an expedited process, suggesting a fast-track court should handle the matter on a day-to-day basis to ensure timely punishment for any individuals found guilty.
Concerns Raised Over Silver Donations
Adding to the allegations, a representative of the global Sindhi community, businessman Raju V Manwani, sought transparency regarding approximately 200 kilograms of silver bricks donated to the temple in January 2021. Manwani stated that these silver bricks, valued between Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 2 crore, were contributed by nearly 200 devotees from India and abroad for the temple's construction.
He highlighted that no receipts were issued at the time of the donation, as the community trusted that their contribution would be appropriately utilized. However, in light of the recent reports and the ongoing investigation into donation irregularities, the Sindhi community is now requesting information on the utilization of these silver bricks and for relevant records or receipts to be made available.