Venugopal urges PM Modi to order SC-monitored probe into Ram Temple donation case

Congress leader K C Venugopal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement. He claimed the state investigation was inadequate and demanded an independent inquiry into the alleged multi-crore financial irregularities

New Delhi: Congress general secretary K C Venugopal on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding an immediate Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations, describing it as the “Chanda Chori mega scandal”.

In his letter, Venugopal said a “fraud of this magnitude” involving allegations stretching into hundreds of crores of rupees is a “monumental betrayal” of the Hindu faith, religion, and way of life.

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“Lord Ram is revered as the embodiment of justice and righteousness. Allowing allegations of this nature to be buried, rather than impartially investigated, would be a profound injustice to his devotees and to the values he embodies,” the Congress general secretary in-charge organisation said.

“I am writing to you to express the deep anguish and outrage of millions of Indians regarding the shocking revelations of massive financial fraud, theft, and embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya,” he said.

The senior Congress leader said the offerings made by ordinary citizens — who contributed their hard-earned life savings out of profound faith and reverence for Lord Ram — have been shamelessly looted, striking at the very sanctity of a place held sacred by millions.

Venugopal, who heads the key Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, said the ongoing preliminary investigations have exposed a highly organised racket operating right under the nose of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The systemic lapses at every level make it clear that this loot was enabled by institutional support, he said. “On one hand, the counting staff bypassed regular surveillance to siphon off bundles of cash and valuable jewellery on a daily basis; on the other, 7 to 8 months of crucial CCTV footage was deliberately destroyed to cover the tracks of this criminal enterprise,” he said.

This clearly indicates that this loot goes beyond the work of a few rogue employees, and is a scam orchestrated with the complicity of the higher-ups, instead, Venugopal said in the letter.

“Simultaneously, we are learning that complaints of embezzlement and theft were either ignored or actively suppressed. The Trust’s former Chief Accounts Officer, who flagged these systematic irregularities as early as 2020-21 and warned that unaccounted gold and silver ornaments were being spirited away, was unceremoniously removed from his duties instead of being heard,” he said.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13, followed by the FIR registered on June 25, appears to be little more than an “eyewash”, Venugopal alleged in his letter to Modi.

“So far, only the ‘small fish’ — drivers, clerks, and outsourced cashiers — have been arrested, while the institutional support and chain of command that enabled the brazen loot remain untouched.

“A state-appointed SIT is neither equipped nor institutionally independent to investigate individuals wielding immense political and institutional influence,” he asserted.

There is a growing apprehension that the investigation is being used to erase the remaining evidence while shielding the “big fish” who allegedly orchestrated this multi-crore embezzlement, he said.

Venugopal said the “scandal” warrants the highest level of accountability because the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is a public trust constituted by the Union government in 2020.

He highlighted that its very creation took place under the direct supervision of the government, and the land was vested in the trust pursuant to the Supreme Court’s judgment.

“It is, therefore, the moral responsibility of the government – and of you, as its head — to restore the faith of over 1.4 billion Indians in the government’s intent and ability to safeguard donations and preserve the sanctity of an institution established in the name of Lord Ram,” Venugopal said.

“Therefore, I strongly demand your immediate intervention in this matter to order a free and fair investigation by a high-level independent agency under the strict supervision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India,” he said in his letter.

Sharing the letter on X, Venugopal said the “massive Chanda Chori” at the Ayodhya Ram Temple has shaken the nation. “This is way beyond an ordinary loot, it strikes at the heart of how faith is corrupted — first for political gain, and then for financial enrichment. I have written to the PM demanding an immediate Supreme Court-monitored investigation into this Chanda Chori mega scandal,” Venugopal said.

The alleged embezzlement came to light after an SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government submitted its preliminary findings, following which an FIR was registered on June 25.

Eight accused were subsequently arrested, and police said nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash, besides some foreign currency, has been recovered so far from six of them. The investigation is continuing.