Jairam Ramesh criticises BJP on alleged Ayodhya Ram Temple theft
Jairam Ramesh criticises BJP on alleged Ayodhya Ram Temple theft
M.U.H
19/10/202637
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the BJP government on October 19 for its handling of the alleged donation theft at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. He described the incident as a “grave betrayal of faith” and accused political authorities of protecting senior officials while sacrificing lower-level employees.
In a post on X, Ramesh stated, “Chanda Theft, Faith Deceived. Gained power in Ram’s name, silence reigns over chanda theft. The BJP, which came to power invoking Lord Ram’s name, will be destroyed by the sin of chanda theft.”
Ramesh alleged that although the theft became public on June 4, 2026, the Uttar Pradesh government delayed forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) until June 13, nine days later and only after a request from the temple trust. By August 17, the Home Department submitted its final report directly to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which cleared senior trust officials including Champat Rai and Anil Mishra.
He said, “SIT formed to suit the accused. The case of this grand theft at the Lord Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya was made public on June 4, and it was only nine full days later, on June 13, 2026, that the UP government formed the SIT at the trust’s request. On August 17, the Home Department handed over its final report to the same trust, which, as expected, gave Champat Rai and Anil Mishra a clean chit.”
Ramesh added that surveillance footage from April 27 to June 5 captured counting staff hiding bundles of notes on 105 separate occasions. Despite initial reports on June 23 highlighting severe lapses in surveillance procedures and empty control rooms, there was no comprehensive investigation into those responsible for the oversight.
He remarked, “Theft caught on camera 105 times. In footage from April 27 to June 5, 2026, counting staff were seen hiding bundles of notes.”
The Congress leader noted that local saints and commentators in Ayodhya raised questions about the internal financial management. He pointed out that Treasurer Govind Giri, responsible for oversight, cleared senior trust members on July 7 without addressing basic custodial accountability.
He said, “The one responsible issues the clean chit: The treasurer was responsible for the treasury, so the biggest question falls on them. Saints of Ayodhya also said that Treasurer Govind Giri must have known where the money was coming from and where it was going. Yet, on July 7, he denied any role of Champat Rai in this scam.”
Months after the scandal emerged, the total amount of stolen funds or valuables remains undisclosed. Following an FIR registered on June 25, eight counting room staff were arrested and jailed, but no former or current trust executives have been named or questioned by agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate or the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Ramesh stated, “Theft figures still hidden: The country has not been told to this day how much money or valuables were stolen. The preliminary report of June 23 already made it clear that surveillance rules were not in place and the control room was often left empty. Why no probe into who all were involved and responsible? How was the investigation closed without revealing the theft figures? Small employees in jail, big ones outside: FIR registered on June 25, and the next day eight people linked to counting were arrested, but no former trust official’s name is in the FIR. Why no rigorous questioning by ED/CBI from anyone?”
He criticised the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for over four and a half months following the public exposure of the theft. Ramesh called for a transparent, independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court to determine the full extent of the theft and ensure accountability.
He said, “Lord Ram in Ayodhya had already signaled by defeating the BJP, which they failed to understand and allowed the offering theft to continue. No hope of investigation into offering thieves linked to the Sangh Parivar from the BJP government, which is why Congress demands that the entire matter of offering theft at the Lord Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya be investigated independently, impartially, and transparently under Supreme Court supervision. Full accounting of offerings must be made public, roles of all responsible persons investigated, and no official spared accountability. Over four and a half months have passed since the chanda theft case at the Lord Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya was made public, yet Chief Minister Ajay Singh Bisht and Prime Minister Narendra Modi remain silent. Now it is the responsibility of the country’s citizens to punish the chanda thieves drowned in the arrogance of power.”
