Kejriwal questions Ram temple donation probe, calls arrests a 'cover-up'

Chandigarh: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday questioned the police probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, alleging that only small-time players have been arrested while the main persons facing serious accusations are roaming freely.

He said that despite allegations of a Rs 200 crore "theft", only Rs 80 lakh had been recovered so far.

Also Read: Ram temple donation embezzlement probe widens; bank officials under scrutiny


"In the Ram temple case, not all the accused have been arrested. Instead, only small-time individuals have been caught. The main and big names, against whom the most serious allegations have been made, are still roaming freely.

"They have picked up someone who counted the cash or a watchman. The eight people who have been arrested all work at low levels," Kejriwal, flanked by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, told reporters in Amritsar.

While Mann spoke on Punjab MLAs and cabinet ministers appearing before the Akal Takht, which summoned them on June 29 regarding the anti-sacrilege law, and responded to queries on the video row, Kejriwal raised the issue of the Ram temple donation probe and announced the construction of Luv-Kush and Mata Janaki near the Bhagwan Valmiki Temple in Amritsar.

Questioning the police investigation, the AAP chief claimed that the Ayodhya police did not seek the remand of those arrested, nor did they question them.

"They should have asked them how much they stole, who they handed the money over to, and where it was hidden. But the police conducted no interrogation, did not seek their remand, and they (accused) were sent to judicial custody. This clearly suggests that they will be granted bail within the next few days," he claimed.

Calling the entire exercise "merely a cover-up attempt", he said it appears that the theft took place on a very large scale.

"One of the allegations is that Rs 200 crore in cash was stolen, yet only Rs 80 lakh has been recovered from these eight individuals. Where has the remaining money gone? I have repeatedly said that there must be a thorough investigation into where the money went."

Meanwhile, Kejriwal said the Punjab government has decided in-principle to build a grand temple dedicated to Luv-Kush and Mata Janaki near the Bhagwan Valmiki Temple in Amritsar.

Also Read: 'Shocked & saddened': Ram Temple Trust vows fair probe into donation row

Kejriwal said the detailed plan for the project will be shared soon.

He said Amritsar holds immense significance in the Ramayana as the birthplace of Luv-Kush and the place where they stopped Bhagwan Ram's Ashwamedha horse, making it the ideal location for the grand temple.

He said people of every faith live here and their places of worship are also located in Amritsar.

"Sri Darbar Sahib is here, where people from across the world, irrespective of their faith, come to bow their heads and offer prayers. Amritsar is also home to the Durgiana Temple, Jallianwala Bagh," he said.

"This is also the land where the Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal is located, where Bhagwan Valmiki wrote the Ramayana. Mata Sita lived here in Valmiki Ashram, Luv and Kush were born here, and they also received their education here.

"When Bhagwan Ram released the horse for the Ashwamedha Yagna, which no one in the world could stop, it was Luv and Kush who stopped the horse and tied it to a tree here. This is an immensely sacred land for people of every faith, and especially a place of deep reverence for followers of Hinduism and members of the Valmiki community," he said.

"The Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal already exists there, and a grand temple dedicated to Luv Kush and Mata Janaki will be built adjacent to it," he added.