Congress Leader Venugopal Seeks Supreme Court Probe into Ayodhya Temple Donation Allegations

Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into alleged irregularities in the collection of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

In his letter, Venugopal alleged that the fraud involved hundreds of crores of rupees and described it as a betrayal of the faith of devotees. He questioned the credibility of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government, calling it an “eyewash”. He claimed the investigation was being used to erase evidence while protecting those responsible.

“Lord Ram is revered as the embodiment of justice and righteousness. Allowing allegations of this nature to be buried, rather than impartially investigated, would be a profound injustice to his devotees and to the values he embodies,” Venugopal wrote.

The Congress leader alleged that preliminary investigations had revealed a well-organised racket operating under the nose of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. He said systemic lapses at every level suggested institutional support for the alleged theft. He pointed to the destruction of CCTV footage and the removal of a chief accounts officer who had flagged irregularities as early as 2020-21.

Venugopal argued that only low-level employees had been arrested so far, while those with political and institutional influence remained untouched. He said a state-appointed SIT was not equipped to investigate powerful individuals.

The Congress leader noted that the trust is a public trust constituted by the Government of India in 2020, following the Supreme Court’s judgment on the Ayodhya dispute. He said the government has a moral responsibility to ensure a free and fair investigation.

“Therefore, I strongly demand your immediate intervention in this matter to order a free and fair investigation,” Venugopal wrote.