FIR filed amid Ayodhya Ram Mandir ‘donation theft’ claims, ‘strict’ recommendations made

AN fir tree has been filed in link with the alleged misapplication of donations at the pound Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The caseful has been filed based on a complaint by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust.The case registration comes amid an ongoing probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on the recommendations of the temple trust.According to news agency ANI, these names have been mentioned in the FIR: Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinnu Yadav, Manish Yadav and others. The case has been registered under sections 306 (theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master), 316 (criminal breach of trust), 317 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), among other penal provisions, reports said. Allegations of misappropriation of donations received at the Ayodhya Ram temple surfaced earlier this month, following which the SIT was formed. According to news agency PTI, the SIT has made some "strong, strict" recommendations and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also "very serious" on the matter.What is the controversy?Donations to the Ram Temple recently drew enhanced focus after allegations that crores of rupees donated by devotees were embezzled.The controversy first emerged after a Samajwadi MLA claimed that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore in donations were stolen, and the chorus was later joined by several other Opposition leaders.Amid questions on the handling of temple funds, the issue soon took a legal turn as an advocate filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on June 12, claiming he had made representations to the Ram Temple trust a few days earlier. Days after the plea filed by advocate Mohit Ashok, the UP government formed an SIT to probe the claims.Also Read: Amid Ram temple donation row, VHP pitches for FIRAccording to news agency ANI, a fresh petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation into allegations. The plea also seeks a CBI probe in the case.'Ram's sandals, garlands, lamps stolen'The controversy over the alleged embezzlement is only escalating. Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal mounted big allegations, saying items sandals, jewelry, garlands and lamps donated for Lord Ram was stolen from the temple. "Diamonds and precious stones that devotees offered to God have been stolen, ₹200 crore in cash has been stolen, and even 200 kilograms of silver have been stolen," he said. He also dismissed the SIT probing the Ram Temple donation scam as an eyewash and not legally valid.Earlier in the day, AAP MP Sanjay Singh appeared before the SIT and submitted documents which he claimed contained evidence of corruption.Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai also trained guns at the BJP-led government, saying public anger was growing over the controversy surrounding donations.(With inputs from Pranshu Mishra).