Ram Temple Donations – VHP Seeks Police Review of Opposition Claims

Ram Temple Donations –  The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has asked Ayodhya Police to examine public claims made by Opposition leaders about alleged theft of donations and valuables linked to the Ram temple. In a letter sent on Sunday to the deputy superintendent of police handling the case, VHP international president Alok Kumar said those making the allegations should be called to provide evidence.

VHP asks leaders to support their statements

Kumar said the investigation should seek details from Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders who have spoken about the matter. He said police should take action permitted under the law if the claims are found to be unsupported and made with the intention of creating hostility or mistrust.

According to the VHP letter, some political leaders have cited specific figures while raising questions over the alleged diversion of temple offerings. Kumar referred to remarks attributed to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who questioned whether lower-level staff alone could have disabled CCTV cameras and handled offerings reportedly worth thousands of crores, or whether more influential people could be involved.

Allegations include cash and donated valuables

The letter also mentioned claims attributed to Kejriwal, who alleged that around Rs 200 crore in cash, along with religious items and valuables donated to the temple, had gone missing. Kumar said such statements should be examined carefully because they concern a matter that is already under police investigation.

The VHP leader further referred to comments allegedly made by Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. Yadav was quoted in the letter as alleging a scam worth Rs 20,000 crore and suggesting that the matter could involve people beyond junior employees.

Kumar said any credible information shared by the leaders could help investigators identify the full extent of the case. However, he added that authorities should also consider legal action if the allegations were made recklessly without evidence.

Congress calls for independent inquiry

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has described the alleged misuse of donations as a serious matter. He said funds amounting to thousands of crores had allegedly been diverted and called for an inquiry led by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. Ramesh also sought strict action against anyone found responsible.

The claims and counterclaims have added a political dimension to the ongoing probe, with parties demanding transparency and accountability in the management of donations made by devotees.

SIT expands effort to trace alleged proceeds

Meanwhile, the special investigation team has widened its inquiry to locate money that may have been invested or spent by the accused. Police are examining possible locations connected to eight people named in the case and are working to identify movable and immovable assets that may be linked to the alleged fraud.

A police officer familiar with the investigation said the involvement of the accused had been established during the probe. However, investigators are still trying to determine where the allegedly misappropriated money went and whether it was converted into property or other assets.

Demand raised for RTI coverage of trust

Separately, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a review of the decision to keep the Shree Ram Teerth Kshetra Trust outside the scope of the Right to Information Act.

Brittas said the trust should be brought under the RTI framework to improve transparency in its functioning. His letter comes as calls for greater public disclosure have grown amid the controversy surrounding the alleged theft of Ram temple donations.