There should be impartial probe into Ram Mandir donation theft case; guilty must not be spared: Dr Vaishnavi Jagdamba Nandgiri

New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) Commenting on the controversy surrounding the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Dr. Vaishnavi Jagdamba Nandgiri, Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhara and Juna Akhara on Saturday said the matter requires an impartial investigation and that whoever is found guilty must be punished.

Speaking to IANS, Dr. Vaishnavi Jagdamba Nandgiri said, “Whether it is the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister, or the President, whoever intervenes in this matter must ensure that the investigation is conducted fairly and without discrimination.”

She further said, “People are naturally distressed whenever any wrongdoing comes to light. However, only an impartial investigation can reveal the truth behind the incident. The facts must be brought before the public, and the person responsible, whoever they may be, must be identified and punished.”

Calling the matter unfortunate, Dr Nandgiri said, “This is a highly condemnable incident. Everyone knows the years of struggle, hard work, and dedication that went into the construction of the Shri Ram Mandir. After a long wait, Lord Ram was finally consecrated at His rightful place. The temple is one of the greatest centres of faith for crores of devotees.”

The Mahamandaleshwar added, “This is a matter for the administration, and it will act as it deems appropriate. We cannot interfere in its functioning. However, as a citizen of India, the Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhara and Juna Akhara, and a member of the sant community, I firmly believe that an impartial investigation must be conducted.”

Meanwhile, on Friday, the alleged multi-crore embezzlement of devotees’ donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya took a major turn, with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra stepping down from their posts. Their resignations came amid growing scrutiny over the handling of temple donations and the ongoing investigation into the alleged misappropriation of offerings.

All eight accused who had been arrested earlier were remanded to judicial custody. The investigators turned focus to possible involvement of banking officials. Police, in fact, suspect the alleged embezzlement was part of an organised racket that siphoned off temple funds over several years.

According to sources, Rai and Mishra resigned on moral grounds days after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted preliminary findings highlighting serious lapses in the management of donations and cash offerings made by devotees at the Ram Temple.

Their exit is being viewed as the first major accountability measure after the controversy triggered widespread outrage and demands for action against those responsible for supervising the temple’s day-to-day administration and the handling of offerings.

The resignations followed the registration of an FIR against eight people, including temple attendants, cash-counting staff and a retired bank employee, who are accused of working in collusion to divert cash and valuables donated by devotees.

All eight accused were arrested and presented before a magistrate on Friday, who remanded them to three-day judicial custody till June 29. Police are expected to seek their custodial remand for detailed interrogation to unravel the alleged conspiracy, trace the flow of funds and identify other beneficiaries, say sources.

The accused include Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra and retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava. Investigators believe each played a specific role in the alleged embezzlement of offerings received at the temple.

–IANS

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