Newdelhi: The Congress on Monday questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the alleged theft of donations from the Ram temple and demanded an independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh demanded that a full account of the temple offerings be made public, the roles of all those responsible be investigated, and no official be spared accountability. In a post on social media, Ramesh alleged that the ruling party, which came to power by invoking Lord Ram, would face political consequences because of the scandal.
Ramesh asserted that the special investigation team was constituted in a manner that suited those accused in the case. He noted that the large-scale theft at the temple came to light on June 4, 2026, and that a state government SIT was subsequently formed upon a request from the Trust. The home department later submitted a final report that granted a clean chit to senior figures Champat Rai and Anil Mishra.
According to the opposition leader, surveillance footage recorded between late April and early June 2026 allegedly showed staff members tasked with counting funds while hiding bundles of currency notes. Ramesh questioned how the investigation could be closed without disclosing actual figures regarding the stolen amounts or examining the oversight failures that left control rooms unattended.
While eight individuals involved in counting donations were arrested following an FIR registered in late June, Ramesh pointed out that no former office-bearer of the Trust was named in the filing. He also questioned why central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate or the Central Bureau of Investigation had not conducted rigorous interrogations.
Arguing that a state-level inquiry cannot fairly investigate individuals linked to the Sangh Parivar, the Congress reiterated that only a transparent probe monitored by the Supreme Court can ensure accountability and reveal the complete truth behind the missing offerings.