Arvind Kejriwal, national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), called the Special Investigation Team probing alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement a fraud.
The accusations target the integrity of the official investigation into missing assets meant for the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Kejriwal said the probe is designed to shield powerful individuals rather than uncover the truth about the missing donations.
Kejriwal said the SIT is an "eyewash" formed to protect the powerful. He said that diamonds, jewels, and significant amounts of cash and silver donated for the temple were stolen [1].
In an interview, Kejriwal said the diamonds and jewels offered to God were stolen [2]. He said reports indicate up to 200 crore rupees in cash was stolen [2]. Additionally, he said someone had donated 200 kg of silver, and that was also stolen [2].
These allegations follow a period of scrutiny regarding the management of donations at the Ayodhya site. Kejriwal said the news coming out about the Shri Ram Temple deeply hurts his heart [1].
Following these statements on April 30, 2024, Kejriwal announced he would travel to Ayodhya the next day to visit the temple site and nearby Hanumangarhi [1]. He said the current investigative process serves as a cover-up for the theft of religious offerings.
“"The diamonds and jewels offered to God were stolen."”
The allegations by a high-profile political leader against a Special Investigation Team highlight the tension between political oversight and official probes into religious institutions. By framing the SIT as a tool for protection rather than prosecution, the AAP leader is questioning the transparency of the state's handling of high-value religious donations.
