New Delhi; Senior Congress leader Rajeev Shukla has called for a Supreme Court-supervised investigation into alleged large-scale embezzlement of donations and offerings at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Shukla said the Congress had avoided commenting earlier to prevent politicising a religious issue. However, the registration of an FIR and arrests showed the government accepted serious irregularities involving hundreds to thousands of crores in donations.
He said poor devotees across villages contributed small amounts such as Rs 10, Rs 50 and Rs 100 out of faith in Lord Ram. Jewellery and ornaments traditionally offered by women devotees, especially from South India, over many years had no records, registers or receipts. Cash discrepancies were common, he alleged, with examples of Rs 13 lakh received being shown as only Rs 10 lakh. Even the diamond necklace of Lord Ram was reported missing, and many devotees had not received receipts for their offerings.
Shukla questioned how only seven or eight junior employees could be responsible for a scam of this scale. He said CCTV cameras being switched off during cash counting and other irregularities pointed to higher-level involvement, and accused the authorities of shielding the real culprits by targeting only lower staff.
He also criticised the BJP’s formation of a ‘temple cell’, describing it as an attempt to control temple trusts, place party members in them and divert funds for political purposes.
Shukla made three demands: a Supreme Court-monitored investigation; dissolution of the existing trust and its replacement by a body of religious leaders including Shankaracharyas and saints linked to the Ram Mandir movement, with temple administration kept free of political control and BJP-RSS associated persons removed; and immediate intervention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure swift action, noting the PM’s role in the consecration ceremony.
He urged the Chief Justice of India to take suo motu cognizance and order an inquiry under Supreme Court supervision.
Responding to questions, Shukla said the matter went beyond Champat Rai, whose name had not appeared in the FIR. The scale of the alleged loot, with figures of Rs 200 crore to Rs 1,400 crore being discussed, suggested involvement at higher levels. He maintained that FIRs against only junior staff were meant to protect those higher up.
On Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s remarks, Shukla said the Congress had remained silent for 15 days to avoid politicisation and spoke only after the FIR confirmed the irregularities. He called it a major shock to devotees.
Shukla stressed the need for a national policy or judicial framework to ensure transparent management of temple trusts and prevent political interference in religious institutions.
