16.50 cr scam in the purchase of land by Ram Temple Trust in Ayodhya?

Two Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh AAP & SP have accused the Ram Temple Trust of embezzling crores of rupees by pulling off a fraudulent land deal “in the name of Lord Ram".

AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Uttar Pradesh minister Pawan Pandey made serious allegations against the General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, Champat Rai and said that a piece of land for Rs 2 crore was sold to temple trust via Rs 18.5 crore within minutes.

However, the temple trust dismissed the allegations and said

“We are not afraid of allegations. We have even been accused of murdering Mahatma Gandhi. We will study the allegations."

On the other hand, current AAP MP and former Samajwadi Party MLA Sanjay Singh in a press conference in Lucknow on Sunday June 13 claimed that the mayor of Ayodhya also was a witness to this scam.

Terming it a case of money laundering, both the opposition leaders sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate. They also termed it a “loot" as the money for the construction of Ram Temple was collected through donations by lakhs of Ram bhakts. The trust has earlier said it had received around 2,100 Cr for temple construction.

Notably, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra is a Trust was established by the Modi government at the Centre in February 2020 to oversee and manage the temple’s construction, which was ordered by the Supreme Court. In the verdict, it was given about 70 acres of property, and the Centre nominated 12 of its 15 members.