Ram Mandir Trust Receives Legal Notice Over Donation Disclosures

NEW DELHI: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya on Thursday received a legal notice from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh seeking detailed disclosures on donations received by the Ram Mandir and how those funds have been spent.

The notice comes amid a political row over allegations of financial irregularities in the handling of temple donations, claims that have been strongly denied by the Trust.

Issued through Supreme Court advocate Satyam Singh Rajput, the legal notice has been addressed to Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, general secretary Champat Rai and treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri.

The notice demands that the Trust provide a complete, itemised and year-wise account of donations and expenditure from the financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26 within three days of receiving the notice.

It also seeks audited balance sheets, income and expenditure statements, auditors' reports, details of bank accounts, records of land purchases and information regarding any foreign contributions received under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).

The move follows allegations made by former Samajwadi Party MLA from Ayodhya Pawan Pandey, who claimed that between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore in donations meant for the Ram Mandir had been misappropriated.

However, Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has categorically rejected the allegations and maintained that there has been no wrongdoing in the management of temple funds.

The controversy has also drawn political reactions from opposition leaders.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded an impartial investigation into the allegations and described the Uttar Pradesh government's silence on the issue as 'suspicious'. He urged the judiciary to take cognisance of the matter and called on the temple administration to make relevant CCTV footage public.

Reacting to Akhilesh's statement, UP deputy CM Brajesh Pathak said,"I want to tell the Samajwadi Party chief and others raising questions: the SIT investigation is already underway, the committee has been formed. Action will follow based on the SIT report. But my question to the opposition, especially the Samajwadi Party chief, is that when donations were collected for building the Babri Masjid, do you remember where that money went? Why not raise questions on that? By making statements, they are indulging in appeasement and vote‑bank politics. "

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also attacked the BJP over the allegations, claiming that theft had become widespread within the ruling party.

Speaking to reporters, Raut said: "The way a dacoity involving over Rs 5 crore was committed against the Ram Mandir's offerings; it is visible in the CCTV footage. If Rs 5 crore from the offerings made to Ram are stolen, your government, both in UP and at the Centre is responsible. You steal EVMs, votes, seats, and you even steal from the offerings made to Ram; theft is everywhere with you."

Raut also said that he and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray were planning a visit to Ayodhya. "We feel Lord Ram is calling us back. Yesterday, I spoke to Uddhav Thackeray ji and said we must go to Ayodhya. So, a programme for Ayodhya is being planned. We will go to Ayodhya first. We will meet Lord Ram first. We will bow our heads and seek forgiveness from Lord Shri Ram," he said.