KC Venugopal seeks SC monitored probe into Ram Temple donation row

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New Delhi, July 2

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday seeking an immediate Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, describing the case as a “Chanda Chori mega scandal”.

In his letter, Venugopal alleged that donations worth hundreds of crores meant for the temple had been misappropriated, calling it a betrayal of the faith of millions of devotees. He claimed the alleged fraud had undermined public trust and demanded a free and fair investigation by an independent agency under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

Venugopal alleged that cash and jewellery donated by devotees were siphoned off on a daily basis. He also claimed that crucial CCTV footage was destroyed and that complaints highlighting financial irregularities were ignored. According to him, these developments indicated possible involvement by more than a few individuals.

He criticised the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government, describing its inquiry as an “eyewash”. Venugopal alleged that action had so far been limited to lower-level staff while those allegedly responsible at higher levels had not been brought under scrutiny.

“The ongoing preliminary investigations have exposed a highly organised racket operating right under the nose of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust,” he said.

Calling for greater accountability, Venugopal said the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was established under the supervision of the Government of India and therefore required complete transparency in handling public donations.

He urged the Prime Minister to ensure an impartial investigation, stating that such a probe was necessary to restore public confidence and safeguard the institution’s sanctity.

The alleged embezzlement came to light after the Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team submitted its preliminary findings. An FIR was registered on June 25 following the inquiry.

Police have arrested eight accused in connection with the case and recovered nearly ₹80 lakh in cash along with foreign currency from six of them. The investigation is continuing.