BJP files police complaint against Rahul Gandhi, Pappu Yadav over Ram Temple skit
Synopsis
A BJP delegation walked into a New Delhi police station demanding an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, Pappu Yadav, and Awadhesh Prasad — one day after the trio enacted a Ram Temple donation-theft skit inside Parliament. With complaints now filed in Delhi and Varanasi, a theatrical protest has rapidly escalated into a multi-city legal battle over religious sentiment and the limits of political expression.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj led a delegation to New Delhi DCP Sachin Sharma on 1 August , demanding an FIR over a Ram Temple donation skit.
The complaint names Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi , Independent MP Pappu Yadav , and SP MP Awadhesh Prasad .
Pappu Yadav wore saffron robes inside the Parliament complex on 31 July to enact alleged embezzlement of Ayodhya Ram Temple donations.
BJP MLAs Anil Sharma and Karnail Singh were part of the delegation; both demanded action for 'insulting Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma.' Separate complaints were filed at Jahangirpuri Police Station (Delhi) and by seers and lawyers in Varanasi on the same day.
An SIT in Uttar Pradesh is already probing the Ram Temple donation theft allegations and has made arrests.
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation led by MP Bansuri Swaraj on 1 August submitted a written complaint to New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Sharma, alleging that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, and Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Awadhesh Prasad hurt Hindu religious sentiments through a skit enacted inside the Parliament complex. The complaint demands the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and an immediate investigation.
What the Skit Involved
The controversy erupted on Friday, 31 July, when Purnia MP Pappu Yadav arrived at the Parliament complex dressed in saffron robes — attire associated with Hindu monks — and performed a theatrical enactment of the alleged embezzlement of donations collected at Ayodhya's Ram Temple. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and SP MP Awadhesh Prasad reportedly participated alongside him. The demonstration was framed by the Opposition as a protest against alleged donation theft at the temple, which is currently under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Uttar Pradesh.
What the BJP Delegation Said
Speaking to reporters, Bansuri Swaraj said: 'Yesterday, the kind of pretense that was put up by Pappu Yadav, Awadhesh Prasad and LoP Rahul Gandhi in the name of protest, it was not a demonstration but rather a mockery of the Sanatan culture, the saint community and was a satire on India's traditions.' She acknowledged the constitutional right to protest but asserted it does not extend to hurting the sentiments of any religious community.
BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who was part of the delegation alongside BJP MLA Karnail Singh, said those who wore saffron robes did so 'deliberately to portray that the entire saint community is a thief.' He noted that an SIT is already probing the donation theft allegations and accused individuals have been arrested, arguing there was 'no need for such theatrics.'
What the Complaint Letter States
The written complaint submitted to DCP Sachin Sharma alleged that the skit 'subjected sacred Hindu religious symbols and practices to public ridicule and mockery.' It further stated that the demonstration conveyed a message that 'Hindu priests, devotees of Lord Shri Ram and persons associated with Hindu religious traditions engage in grabbing or misappropriating donations offered by devotees for personal gain.' The complainants argued this 'gravely insults the religious beliefs of millions of Hindus' who regard saffron attire, the religious tilak, and temple offerings as sacred.
Similar Complaints Filed Elsewhere
This is not an isolated filing. Separate complaints against Pappu Yadav were registered at Jahangirpuri Police Station in New Delhi on Friday, and seers and lawyers in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh filed similar complaints on Saturday, accusing him of insulting Sanatan Dharma. The widening trail of complaints signals an organised political and legal counter-offensive by BJP and affiliated groups. With the Ram Temple donation theft case already before an SIT, the Opposition's choice to stage the protest inside Parliament premises has sharpened the confrontation heading into the monsoon session.
Point of View
Rather than outside it, handed the BJP a gift: the sacred-space argument now competes with the accountability argument. Notably, an SIT is already investigating the underlying theft claims and has made arrests — which means the legal process the BJP says renders the skit unnecessary is itself an acknowledgment that the allegations have merit. The multi-city complaint strategy, spanning Delhi and Varanasi, suggests a coordinated escalation designed to keep the religious-hurt narrative dominant through the monsoon session.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Ram Temple donation skit in Parliament?
On 31 July, Purnia MP Pappu Yadav entered the Parliament complex dressed in saffron robes and enacted a theatrical protest depicting the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and SP MP Awadhesh Prasad also participated in the demonstration.
Why did the BJP file a police complaint?
The BJP delegation, led by MP Bansuri Swaraj, argued that the skit used sacred Hindu symbols — saffron robes, the tilak, and temple offerings — to portray Hindu priests as thieves, thereby hurting the sentiments of millions of Hindus. They demanded an FIR and immediate investigation.
Who are the MPs named in the BJP complaint?
The complaint names Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi (Congress), Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, and Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad. The complaint was submitted to New Delhi DCP Sachin Sharma.
Have similar complaints been filed elsewhere?
Yes. Separate complaints against Pappu Yadav were filed at Delhi's Jahangirpuri Police Station on 31 July, and seers and lawyers in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, filed additional complaints on 1 August, all accusing him of insulting Sanatan Dharma.
Is the Ram Temple donation theft allegation already under investigation?
Yes. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Uttar Pradesh is probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple, and accused individuals have already been arrested, according to BJP MLA Anil Sharma.
