It's a Rs 20,000-crore scam, big names involved: SP leader on Ram Mandir donations
The alleged irregularities first came to light on June 7 following a post on X by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Subsequently, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav on Wednesday alleged that a massive scam involving donations and valuables worth around Rs 20,000 crore has taken place in the Ram Mandir project in Ayodhya, claiming that funds and precious items donated by devotees have gone unaccounted for.
Speaking to reporters in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah, Yadav said devotees had contributed large quantities of gold, silver, diamonds and other valuables, but there was no clarity on their utilisation. He also alleged that “big names” were involved in the purported irregularities and demanded accountability.
"It is a Rs 20,000 crore scam with big names involved in it. People donated crores of Rupees, gold and diamonds, but today no one knows what happened," he said.
THE DONATION THEFT CASE SO FAR
The alleged irregularities first came to light on June 7 following a post on X by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Subsequently, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
Following the preliminary findings of the SIT, an FIR was registered on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Hours later, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested all eight accused in the case.
A day later, on June 26, Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, two senior functionaries of the Trust, resigned, reportedly taking moral responsibility for the alleged irregularities.
On June 29, a local court remanded all eight accused in the case to 14-day judicial custody.
Meanwhile, the SIT probing the case has been granted a 15-day extension to complete its investigation. Officials said the extension was granted to widen the scope of the probe and ensure a comprehensive examination of all aspects of the alleged irregularities.
Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav on Wednesday alleged that a massive scam involving donations and valuables worth around Rs 20,000 crore has taken place in the Ram Mandir project in Ayodhya, claiming that funds and precious items donated by devotees have gone unaccounted for.
Speaking to reporters in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah, Yadav said devotees had contributed large quantities of gold, silver, diamonds and other valuables, but there was no clarity on their utilisation. He also alleged that “big names” were involved in the purported irregularities and demanded accountability.
"It is a Rs 20,000 crore scam with big names involved in it. People donated crores of Rupees, gold and diamonds, but today no one knows what happened," he said.
THE DONATION THEFT CASE SO FAR
The alleged irregularities first came to light on June 7 following a post on X by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Subsequently, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
Following the preliminary findings of the SIT, an FIR was registered on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Hours later, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested all eight accused in the case.
A day later, on June 26, Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, two senior functionaries of the Trust, resigned, reportedly taking moral responsibility for the alleged irregularities.
On June 29, a local court remanded all eight accused in the case to 14-day judicial custody.
Meanwhile, the SIT probing the case has been granted a 15-day extension to complete its investigation. Officials said the extension was granted to widen the scope of the probe and ensure a comprehensive examination of all aspects of the alleged irregularities.
