Congress Demands SC Judge Probe in Ram Mandir Donation Row
The Karnataka Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of financial misconduct regarding funds collected for the Ayodhya temple. Senior leadership has called for an independent judicial investigation, while a state-appointed investigative body has delivered its initial findings on the matter to senior administration officials.
Key Highlights
- Karnataka Congress president BK Hariprasad demanded an inquiry led by a sitting Supreme Court judge.
- A three-member Special Investigation Team submitted its preliminary findings to the Uttar Pradesh government.
- The probe was initiated following corruption allegations raised by a former Samajwadi Party legislator.
- Opposition leaders accuse the ruling party of converting religious initiatives into commercial enterprises.
Karnataka Congress chief BK Hariprasad on Tuesday asserted that the ruling party maintains zero respect for spiritual obligations. He insisted that a panel headed by a functioning Supreme Court judge must investigate the temple fund controversy.
Hariprasad informed journalists that the ruling party has commercialized the entire Ayodhya initiative and is pilfering public contributions. He described the situation as deeply regrettable and emphasized the necessity of an exhaustive judicial inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee has also been active in the state. State president Ajay Rai visited survivors of a recent administrative tragedy, leveraging the moment to demand heightened institutional accountability and stricter enforcement of regulatory norms across public establishments.
SIT submits preliminary report
A specialized three-member investigative team established by the Uttar Pradesh administration has delivered its initial findings to Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Prasad. The state panel was formed to scrutinize allegations regarding the mismanagement of temple donations.
Investigative panel member Vijay Vishwas Pant confirmed that the documentation had been handed over to the home department. Pant noted that the initial report details remain classified, preventing the panel from disclosing specific findings to the public at this juncture.
The administration established the investigative panel on June 14 following a formal request from the temple trust. This request came after a former regional lawmaker from the Samajwadi Party publicly leveled accusations of financial malpractice.
In a separate development highlighting regional governance concerns, senior Congress leaders including Member of Parliament Rakesh Rathore held a strategy and condolence assembly. The leaders underscored that administrative negligence consistently contributes to a systemic loss of public faith.
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Historical Context
The dispute over the administration of temple funds follows years of intense political mobilization surrounding the construction of the Ayodhya sanctuary. Allegations of financial mismanagement emerged publicly when regional opposition figures questioned land acquisition costs and donation tracking. This prompted the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust to request an official state inquiry to preserve public confidence in the multi-million dollar institutional project.
FAQs
Who demanded the Supreme Court inquiry into the temple funds?
Karnataka Congress president BK Hariprasad demanded that a sitting Supreme Court judge lead a thorough investigation into the alleged mismanagement of donations.
What is the current status of the official investigation?
A three-member Special Investigation Team has submitted its preliminary report to the Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary of Home, though the contents remain confidential.
What triggered the formation of the investigative panel?
The state government formed the panel on June 14 after the temple trust requested an inquiry in response to corruption allegations raised by a former Samajwadi Party legislator.
