Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain on Tuesday, 22 September welcomed the submission of a 105-page chargesheet in court in the Ram Mandir donation theft case, stating that the SIT's work had exposed the falsity of most allegations. He also charged that certain individuals are exploiting the matter for political gain, alleging they are 'opposing Lord Ram for political reasons.'

SIT Chargesheet and Supreme Court's Observations

According to reports, the Supreme Court expressed satisfaction with the chargesheet report filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged financial irregularities in donations and offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. The Uttar Pradesh government had informed the apex court that the SIT had completed its investigation and would file the charge sheet within two days of that communication.

Jain noted that the Supreme Court also acknowledged that media reporting on certain valuable items had been inaccurate. 'Those items were safe too. Receipts of some of these items could not be obtained, but they are safe, and some of the receipts are under process,' Jain said.

VHP's Stance: Most Allegations Were False

Jain maintained that the bulk of the charges levelled against the temple trust were unfounded. 'It has been proved that most of the allegations were false. Mostly, they were outcomes of false information or were due to some vested interests,' he said, directly addressing those who claimed that ₹20,000 crore had been looted from temple coffers. 'All who claimed that 20,000 crores were looted have lied and sinned. They should apologise,' he added.

At the same time, Jain called for the public to continue engaging with the SIT. 'If some people still feel obligated or have queries, or if anything new comes in the case, then they must inform the SIT,' he said, acknowledging that the investigation remains ongoing and that genuine wrongdoers should face punishment.

Political Controversy and Warning to Critics

Jain reserved sharp words for those he accused of weaponising the case against religious sentiment. 'Please don't use God to push your agenda. The people of the nation won't forgive you,' he warned. He described it as a 'crime against Lord Ram' to make the issue a political tool, adding: 'Use any tool to win elections, but not this one. However, some things did indeed go wrong, and necessary actions will be taken on the same.'

BJP's Response to the Investigation

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo praised the SIT's efforts, describing the extent of the thefts as 'surprising' while cautioning against exaggerating their scale. 'The claim of billions of rupees being looted is wrong. The thefts are minor, but yes, stealing of such a nature is shameful and embarrassing,' Deo said. He expressed confidence that the SIT would secure punishment for the accused through the Supreme Court, adding that both the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh state government are remaining vigilant.

Reconstituted SIT Leading the Probe

The Supreme Court had earlier directed the Uttar Pradesh government to reconstitute the SIT for a fair, speedy, and thorough investigation. The reconstituted team is led by Inspector General of Police Kiran S., with Ayodhya Deputy Inspector General of Police Somen Verma and Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover as members. The development marks a significant step forward in a case that has attracted considerable national attention and political commentary since the allegations first surfaced.