NEW DELHI: Investigators probing the alleged Ram Temple donation scam are examining whether stolen gold ornaments were melted into gold biscuits to hide their identity and make them harder to trace, according to a report by India Today TV citing sources.
The possibility is being examined after repeated searches reportedly failed to recover the missing ornaments. Officials suspect the accused may have melted stolen gold and silver jewellery into bullion, making it nearly impossible to match the recovered metal with the original offerings made by devotees.
The new angle has prompted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to widen its probe beyond missing cash. During a visit to the Ram Temple, investigators offered prayers at the Ram Lalla shrine before questioning temple in-charge KD Babu about how jewellery and other valuable offerings were received, stored and documented.
The investigation has also expanded to official records. The SIT has sought documents relating to precious ornaments, donations and transactions carried out with the government-owned Printing and Minting Corporation of India (Mint). Officials are now scrutinising the trail of gold and silver sent to banks and the Mint to understand how the precious metals were processed and accounted for.
Sources told the channel that investigators have found an apparent gap in the trust’s review process. While the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust regularly examined cash collections and income during quarterly meetings, detailed discussions on the stock, valuation and inventory of gold, silver and other valuable offerings were reportedly absent.
Records being examined by investigators show that, during the temple’s initial phase, the trust sent 9.44 quintals (944 kg) of silver to the government-run Mint for testing and melting to determine the quality and quantity of metals received from devotees. Former trust general secretary Champat Rai had earlier stated that devotees had donated nearly 13 quintals of silver and about 20 kg of gold.
The investigation is also expected to move into a financial review. According to earlier reports, the SIT plans to re-audit the trust’s accounts for the past five years, including expenditure on temple construction and records relating to gold, silver, jewellery and other offerings.
The case involves eight accused, all of whom have been arrested. The FIR was registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, on June 25.
Those booked in the case are Ramshankar Yadav; trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra and Avinash Shukla; and retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava.
The case was registered after a three-member Special Investigation Team, in its preliminary findings, flagged alleged irregularities at multiple levels.
As the investigation progresses, the SIT has questioned former trust general secretary Champat Rai, former trustee Anil Mishra and temple official Gopal Rao. Rai and Mishra have also submitted their resignations, which are expected to be considered by the trust at its Monday (July 6) meeting. - The Statesman/ANN
