New Delhi: The international president of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and senior advocate Alok Kumar has written to the investigating officer of the Ram Temple donation theft case, urging him to examine Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, and Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal over their public allegations.
Kumar has said that they should be questioned over their claims, and if the allegations are found to be false, appropriate action should follow.
The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is an autonomous body constituted by the Centre to manage temple affairs, is currently under the scanner of the Special Investigation Team. A final decision on the resignation of trustees, including Champat Rai, is awaited.
“We have come across several statements made by various public figures, which have been widely circulated through television channels, social media platforms and other electronic media, concerning the subject matter of the investigation,” Kumar wrote in his letter.
Naming each of the political leaders individually, he added that they have even attributed definite figures to the extent of embezzlement, including alleged amounts exceeding Rs 20,000 crore.
“Be that as it may, the allegations made by the above named and other persons lead one to believe that they are acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case,” he added. “In order to ensure a fair, comprehensive and impartial investigation, it would be appropriate to require the attendance of the aforesaid persons under the applicable provisions of law, or otherwise record their statements, so that they may disclose: the factual basis of the allegations made by them; the source of their information; and all documents or other material in their possession supporting such allegations.”
He further wrote that in case any of these leaders are able to furnish credible material to support their allegations, it would assist the investigating agency in discovering the truth.
“Conversely, if upon examination it is found that any person made such serious public allegations without possessing any factual basis or supporting material, that circumstance would also constitute a relevant aspect of the investigation. If it is found that knowingly false or reckless allegations have been made without any supporting basis, the Investigating Agency may consider taking such action as may be permissible in law,” he added.
“Nobody can be permitted to make wild allegations that tend to create and promote feelings of hatred, ill will and enmity and get away with it.”
In such a case, law will then take its own course, he remarked.
In a video statement later, Kumar said, “The DSP is the Investigation Officer in this case, which is why I wrote to him. The people I mentioned hold senior positions, so I assumed that whatever they have said publicly must be based on some information related to the case. For instance, Professor Ram Gopal Yadav claimed that more than Rs 20,000 crore has gone missing, whereas, to our knowledge, that much money has not even been received in total,” he said. “Therefore, the police should ask him how he arrived at that figure, who gave him that information, and whether he has any documents to support it. If he shares those details, it will help the investigation.”
Similarly, he added, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have also spoken about donations worth thousands of crores. “I am not accusing them of anything. I have only said that their assistance should be sought, as they seem to have information that even we do not have.”
Kumar’s demand comes a day after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) issued its first official statement on the Ram Temple donation theft case, with general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale calling the alleged embezzlement of devotees’ contributions “condemnable” and urging “Hindu society” to show patience and restraint.
Last week, Kumar had also said that Hindus were hurt over the controversy, demanding a fast-track investigation, along with the appointment of a chief executive officer (CEO) to manage day-to-day affairs of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
The Ayodhya Bar Association, meanwhile, has submitted a complaint to the police, demanding action against the temple trust general secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra and administrator Gopal Rao in connection with the alleged donation theft.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
Also Read: A trust divided? How rivalries within management blew lid off Ram temple donation ‘theft’ scandal