Ram temple funds row: Cong seeks probe by CBI under SC judge's supervision

Nagpur, Jul 7 (PTI) Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate on Tuesday demanded a CBI probe monitored by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the alleged embezzlement of Ayodhya Ram temple donation funds. Addressing a press conference here, she alleged that the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe the alleged irregularities was just an eyewash. "The loot, robbery and theft that took place in the offerings at the Ram temple in Ayodhya is not a simple financial crime. It is actually the biggest attack on the faith of Hindus...the biggest attack in history. Some people say Hindus are in danger...Yes, Hindus are in danger, but from the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)," she said. Offerings and donations were stolen from the temple, following which an SIT was formed, she said. "But only small fish have been arrested, while the big ones have been spared. The formation of this SIT is just an eyewash. From the very first day, efforts were made to protect Ram Janmabhoomi temple trust's (former) general secretary Champat Rai and his close aides," she claimed. The Ram temple trust on Monday accepted the resignations of Champat Rai as its general secretary and member Anil Mishra in the wake of the row. Shrinate sought to know why the names of Rai and Mishra were not mentioned in the FIR. "This is not just a case of fraud, not merely a matter of crores of rupees being embezzled. It is an attack on the faith of Hindus, a strike against their beliefs. The entire matter should be investigated by the CBI under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge. Only then the truth will come out," she said. "The SIT was formed only to cover things up. I demand that the report it has submitted should be made public," she added. The Congress leader also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should break his silence on the matter. Shrinate added that the RSS' statement on the Ram temple row makes some things clear. "The first thing is that they are shaken; they have understood that the theft, the robbery has been caught. Their role in it has also become clear to the country. They have also colluded in it," she said. RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said on Friday that the alleged donation theft at Ram temple in Ayodhya has "deeply hurt' the sentiments and faith of the entire society, and called for ensuring that anyone found guilty after the investigation faces severe punishment. Two days later, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said he agrees with Hosabale's statement on the issue. The alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations came to light on June 7. An FIR was registered on June 25 following a preliminary report by the SIT, which was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government. Eight persons associated with the temple's donation and counting process have been arrested in the case, and the investigation is continuing. PTI CLS NP