Lucknow: As the controversy over the allegations of embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya intensifies, senior BJP leader and Ram Janmabhoomi movement veteran Vinay Katiyar has joined the list of political leaders voicing concerns over the matter.
Katiyar told reporters at his residence Sunday that if trustees themselves were found to be involved in wrongdoing, it would undermine the purpose of the temple project. Demanding strict action, he urged senior police officers to ensure that those responsible were arrested and sent to jail.
“This is a serious matter. Thousands of people made sacrifices for the Ram Temple movement, and many went to jail. Former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh had even resigned from his post,” Katiyar told ThePrint. “Such people (those responsible for theft) have no place in the trust and should be removed.”
Suggesting that those associated with the trust could be involved in the alleged irregularities, he added, ‘‘Sab ke sab chor hain, jo bhi is samay hain…(all of them are thieves)”.
The former Faizabad MP further said that the ongoing investigation should not be taken lightly, and asserted that those responsible should not be spared.
He said that governments had fallen during the struggle for Ram Temple, and that any attempt to misuse devotees’ donations was unacceptable.
Katiyar has been one of the most prominent figures associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Faizabad three times —in 1991, 1996 and 1999—and later served as a Rajya Sabha member from 2006 to 2018. He has also held key leadership positions in the Bharatiya Janata Party, such as Uttar Pradesh state president, national general secretary and national vice-president.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary also acknowledged the seriousness of the matter, while responding to reporters during a tour of the Kanpur-Bundelkhand region Saturday.
He said the government was conducting a thorough investigation, and that agencies were examining all aspects of the case. “Whoever is found guilty will face strict legal action. No one will be spared, regardless of how influential they may be.” He added that the Ram Temple is a symbol of faith for millions of devotees, and maintaining transparency in all matters related to it remains a priority for the government.
Earlier this week, former MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had also made a cryptic remark on the row, saying, “If I speak the truth, I could land in serious trouble because the people involved are very influential. We do not have the courage to speak openly right now. Perhaps when the right time comes, we will.”
SIT formed, two employees arrested
On Saturday, the UP government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations related to the financial management at the temple.
According to government officials, the SIT was formed on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which said an independent investigation was necessary to establish the truth and counter what it described as attempts to tarnish the temple’s image.
The SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S., and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.
Two temple employees were arrested soon after Saturday. Authorities reportedly recovered around Rs 10 lakh in cash from the residence of Lav Kush Mishra, one of the employees, who is involved in counting donations at the temple. The name of second employee has not been disclosed yet.
According to officials, part of the cash was found inside a cupboard at Mishra’s house in Ayodhya, while the rest was allegedly concealed beneath a pile of cow dung. Investigators are still examining the source of the recovered money.
The alleged irregularities came to light earlier this month, when an internal audit conducted by the Ram Temple Trust reportedly indicated possible discrepancies involving cash and other items collected through donation boxes. Following the audit, CCTV footage from the temple premises and donation collection areas was reviewed.
Investigators reportedly found the conduct of one employee suspicious, prompting an internal inquiry.
The issue gained wider political attention on 7 June when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the Yogi government over the allegations. Addressing a press conference last week, Yadav said reports regarding alleged theft of offerings at the temple were a matter of serious concern. “If there is theft in donations, complaints are bound to follow,” he remarked.
Later, a video surfaced in which one Mahipal Singh, claiming to be the accounts in-charge at the temple, purportedly alleged that he had caught members of a bank team manipulating the handling of cash donations during the counting process.
Earlier, Ram Temple trust general secretary Champat Rai had said that no irregularities had been detected in the handling of donations. However, he has now been largely avoiding making public comments on the matter.
Meanwhile, trust officials have said they are coordinating with the SIT and extending administrative support to facilitate the probe.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
Also Read: Ayodhya Ram Temple donation controversy deepens: Mahant, BJP leader, retired official seek probe