The Ram Mandir donation theft case has shattered the hearts of many devotee Hindus and the opposition political parties are blaming the ruling party BJP and RSS which are alleged by them to have set a trust for management of the temple and employing staff for the same including for counting and safely depositing donations. The allegations centers on the alleged embezzlement and misappropriation of crores of rupees in cash and valuables donated by devotees at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. The senior trust members are also being blamed for lack of an oversight mechanism. The opposition leaders are questioning the intention of the ruling party and claiming that for them honouring the devotion of crores of people was ignored deliberately for pecuniary gains.
However the UP Chief Minister Mr, Yogi who is known to be very tough against corruption, immediately instituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for looking into the allegations. Although the SIT has prepared a preliminary report, it is yet to be made public. Ii is reported in media that SIT found lack of accountability of staff members responsible for counting and sorting the daily offerings and systematically violating the standard operating procedeurs for pilfering cash from donation boxes. One of the major allegations is that the staff intentionally obstructed security cameras during the counting process.
By and by political pressures built up and UP government assured quick action against those who committed thos unethical act. Subsequently police arrested eight individuals, including six temple counting staff and two outsourced State Bank of India (SBI) employees who were present to oversee the counts. Approximately Rs. 80 lakhs in stolen cash was directly recovered from the suspects’ residences. While exact amounts are still being established by the courts, opposition leaders have alleged that the missing total could be significantly higher, potentially involving precious jewelry and large sums of money.
Meanwhile Temple Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned from their positions taking moral responsibility amidst the public and political uproar. Reports emerged that the State Bank of India had actually recommended removing the implicated donation-counting staff three months prior due to suspected theft, but that Trust officials had shielded them from dismissal. In the wake of the scandal, the SIT has recommended strict professional audits and the use of pocketless uniforms for cash-handling staff to ensure transparency and prevent future theft.
Lord Rama is revered as a great deity among the Hindus. often referred to as “Maryada Purushottam” (Great apostle of values and morality). It is sad and ironic that such alleged theft of donations from the temple of Lord Rama has taken place. It is likely that government would conduct the investigations with immense responsibility because if government fails to do so, it will have immense psychological impact on people having an adverse bearing on voting in the elections due next year. Meanwhile opposition is raising the pitch of protest on government’s failure in preventing such a fraudulent act.