S. Gurumurthy, editor of Tuglak magazine, dismissed allegations of donation theft and embezzlement at the Ram Temple in an interview with India Today [1].
The dispute centers on whether funds donated to the temple trust were mishandled. Because the Ram Temple is a focal point of national and religious identity, accusations of financial impropriety carry significant political and social weight within India.
Gurumurthy defended the actions of the Ram Temple Trust and rejected the notion of a scam. He said that those leveling these accusations are only aiding the debranding of India outside the country [1].
Addressing the investigation into the matter, Gurumurthy spoke about the role of the Special Investigation Team. He said the SIT required time to collect CCTV evidence before filing a First Information Report [1].
Throughout the interview, Gurumurthy argued that the media's focus on the alleged scam serves to damage the image of the country abroad [1]. He said that the trust has remained transparent in its operations and that the claims of a scam are unfounded [1].
“What you are doing is only aiding the debranding of India outside”
This clash highlights the tension between institutional transparency and national image. By framing the allegations as an attack on India's global 'branding' rather than a purely legal or financial matter, Gurumurthy shifts the debate from internal accountability to national prestige.
