Congress leader K C Venugopal on Tuesday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi order a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged theft of donations meant for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He accused the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of shielding the 'big fish' involved in the scam.
Congress leader questions SIT's role
Venugopal argued that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was constituted by the Union Government following a Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya dispute. He said the Centre bore responsibility for the temple's administration and must ensure a transparent investigation.
“The SIT is shielding the big fish. The Prime Minister must order a Supreme Court-monitored probe to uncover the truth,” Venugopal said in a statement.
Background of the scam
The alleged theft of donations from the Ram Temple trust came to light earlier this year. Reports suggested that crores of rupees collected from devotees were misappropriated. The Uttar Pradesh government formed an SIT to investigate the matter, but the Congress has questioned its impartiality.
According to sources, the SIT has arrested some lower-level employees but has not touched the higher-ups. Venugopal claimed that the investigation was being manipulated to protect influential individuals.
Political reactions
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed Venugopal's allegations as baseless. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, “The SIT is conducting a fair investigation. The Congress is trying to politicize the issue.”
However, opposition parties have supported Venugopal's demand for a Supreme Court-monitored probe. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “The truth must come out. The SIT cannot be trusted.”
Supreme Court's role
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the Centre to ensure proper administration of the Ram Temple. Venugopal said that the apex court should oversee the investigation to maintain public faith.
“The temple belongs to the people. Any theft of donations is a betrayal of their faith. The Supreme Court must step in,” he added.
