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The SIT probing alleged embezzlement at the Ayodhya Ram Temple has told trust office-bearers and functionaries not to leave the city. The inquiry has widened beyond donations to examine land deals, material purchases and reports sent daily to the Chief Minister's Office.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, you're watching NewsTrack with me, Maria Shaquille.
00:03The special investigation team probing the alleged donation theft at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir
00:08has submitted its preliminary report to the Uttar Pradesh government.
00:12The SIT has flagged serious concerns over how donations were counted, monitored and safeguarded.
00:19And that has turned this into more than just a case of missing cash or jewellery.
00:27It is a question of trust.
00:30Every rupee dropped into a donation box is an offering made in Aastha by devotees who believe it will reach
00:38Lord Ram.
00:39But it's not reaching him.
00:41Now as legal scrutiny intensifies and a political battle erupts, a larger question is being asked.
00:48If questions are being raised over the handling of donations at one of India's holiest places,
00:55who will answer for the faith of the devotees who made those offerings?
01:00Before I bring in my special guest, Faiz Abad, the Member of Parliament of Adesh Prasad, will be joining me
01:05shortly.
01:05Here's a report.
01:15Questions over donations made by devotees at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir are now at the centre of a major legal
01:22and political storm.
01:25The Special Investigation Team probing the alleged donation theft has submitted its preliminary report to the Uttar Pradesh government,
01:34raising concerns over the system used to count, monitor and safeguard temple offerings.
01:49As per the report, gross negligence was also found during security checks and frisking of employees during arrival and departure
01:59from duty.
02:02Employees handling cash were allegedly not screened properly.
02:06As per SIT, the dress code for employees counting cash was also not enforced strictly.
02:12Employees were even seen standing in front of cameras to hide the theft.
02:18SIT probe also observed negligence in transportation of donation boxes from the temple premises to the final deposit of cash
02:27in the bank.
02:29Sources indicate that no individual has been given a clean chit in the investigation so far.
02:36A member of the SIT has confirmed in an exclusive conversation with India today that further action will be determined
02:43after the report is examined at the government level.
03:12Meanwhile, a PIL filed in the APICS court has sought to CBI-led SIT.
03:17SIT probe into the handling of the donations.
03:20The plea demands registration of an FIR, a time-bound investigation into alleged financial irregularities and a probe into possible
03:30embezzlement or corruption.
03:32The petition argues that transparency is essential as the donations are linked to the fate of crores of devotees.
03:43The controversy has sparked a political slugfest.
03:46Opposition leaders have targeted the BJP government questioning who is being projected and alleging that Lord Ram's name is being
03:55used for political gains.
04:23Yogi Adityanath has urged political parties and devotees.
04:26Yogi Adityanath has urged political parties and devotees,
04:27not to draw conclusions before the investigation is completed, saying the probe will reveal the truth.
04:56The SIT's preliminary findings have shifted the focus from alleged theft to the systems meant to prevent it.
05:03As the government examines the report, the focus is on accountability in the handling of donations at one of the
05:11country's most revered temples.
05:15Bureau Report, India Today.
05:22And joining me now is Avadesh Prasad, Member of Parliament of the Samajwadi Party of Faizabad.
05:29Avadesh Prasad has joined us with Ayodhya.
05:33Avadesh Prasad, SIT has provided preliminary reports to the government and have many questions in the monitoring system.
05:40They have asked questions in the monitoring system.
05:43They have asked questions in the government.
05:45They have asked questions in the government.
05:46If you have asked questions in the press,
05:51have asked questions in the comments.
05:51How do you see this attack?
05:54And, you can see this attack.
06:00It is a place where this situation is,
06:05and we have asked questions as well.
06:09It is a place where this situation has taken place.
06:15Thank you very much.
07:05Thank you very much.
07:41Thank you very much.
12:56कि नहीं बता आज सकता
13:17because it was a big deal.
13:20In a big sense, this is the law and the temple of God's temple.
13:30The temple of God is a shri-raam, the temple of God is a shri-raam,
13:34and the temple of God is a shri-raam, the temple of God is a shri-raam,
13:42the temple of God is a shri-raam, the temple of Sonika, the temple of God is a shri-raam.
13:56The temple of God should have to fix that with love of God.
14:20All right, Avidesh Prasad, Member of Parliament of Faizabad, I appreciate your time.
14:25Thank you for joining us, joining me on the show now, Shantanu Gupta, political analyst
14:29and author. We also have Vivek Silas, spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party. Shantanu, coming to
14:35you, it's almost like now established fact that embezzlement has happened, that there
14:41has been some kind of loot which has happened. There have been lapses, there has been negligence
14:50in the entire maintenance, that there has been problem with the counting of the money
14:55and the valuables. And what is stopping the state government from ensuring an FIR? Isn't
15:02that the first step towards an investigation?
15:06I think two things. I think Supreme Courts have multiple cases where they have established
15:10SIT can be formed in cases before an FIR. So, that's established fact. So, in this procedure
15:18also happened. An FIR can come after SIT, any SIT in any case, and an FIR can come before
15:23SIT. There are presidents, multiple presidents, and Supreme Court has given clear guidelines,
15:27right? So, there is not one way about it. Second thing, you started where it's almost evident.
15:31I don't know, based on which fact you are telling it's evident. Because I am not private
15:36to the SIT reports. India today or Maria Shakil is private to the SIT reports. That's a different
15:41fact. I have not seen the SIT report. I have only seen multiple TV allegations. Where from,
15:47starting from Samajwadi Party person Pawan Pandey, he said 7.5 crores. Arvind Kejriwal said 200
15:55crores. Someone said 1,000 crores. These are the different numbers floating around. People
15:59have created a Bhatija of Champat Rai. People have created the Bhatija of Gopal Rai. I realise
16:04the name is not even Gopal Rai. The name is something else. So, there are multiple theories
16:08floating around. The two boxes of jewellery. Have they gone to the strong room where jewellery
16:12are kept? So, I think, till that time, I'll get an official statement from the three people
16:16of SIT or the report. I will not become a James Bond. Once the report is out. Once the
16:22report is out, there are serious allegations. And then, the way the report will go is the
16:27culprits, who are protecting them. Were the people complicit in it or it's only a process?
16:32Given the nature of allegation and as sources are indicating that there are names that have
16:40been mentioned in the SIT report. And these are those who were looking into the donations
16:46and, you know, management of the funds. Those engaged in the accounting process while also
16:52taking it to the bank. And also responsible for the upkeep of the CCTV footage. Yes.
16:59Here is Yogi Adityanath, who promised that within 15 days, the entire inquiry will be finished,
17:06which has happened. He has also promised that action will be taken. What next?
17:12I'm saying you're right. So, you again use the word sources said. I mean, sources can be
17:16if you have interviewed, if you got some sources from the three SIT members or from the Home
17:22Secretary or from Yogi Adityanath. These are the only four or five people who are private
17:26to the SIT report. Apart from that, I doubt anything can be quoted. But again, based on
17:31the media report, I'm sure the way Yogi Adityanath ran his administration in nine and a half years,
17:36I'm sure the strictest of the action will be taken if the culprits are found and whoever is
17:42found, complete or complicit. I think you also differentiate if the senior people are
17:47complicit or they're incompetent. Right? They did not do a proper monitoring or they were
17:51complicit in the allegations once proven. I'm always telling once proven.
17:57Okay, Vivek. I don't want to, I don't have any sources. I don't have any sources in the three SIT
18:01people.
18:01Fine, enough. I did not talk to Sanjay Brasadji. I did not talk to Yogi Adityanathji. Fine, enough.
18:05These are only five people who might be knowing about the report. Rest all is allegations and rumors.
18:09So, you are saying everything is in the realm of allegation. Vivek Silas, so perhaps the Samajwadi
18:17Party should also wait for a little longer before demanding that an FIR be lodged immediately.
18:24You look, as Mr. Shantanu Gupta was saying, as if nothing has happened, you know. It's so incredible
18:29what he has just stated, you know. What I feel at the moment that it is a, it is a,
18:35the faith has been
18:35breached. Shantanu, I'm coming to you. Let him, let him finish. I'm coming to you, Shantanu.
18:40Shantanu Ji, the faith of the people have been breached and it is a personification of, you know,
18:46corruption, what the, what has happened in a Yodhya. You are Ram Bhakti, Shantanu Ji. You were gone there.
18:53I was also in the Ram Mandir. I was also in the Ram Mandir. Keep your hand in your heart
18:56and say,
18:56you know, there have been 80 SITs formed since 2017. I would like to know from the viewers,
19:17from you, Mariya and Mr. Gupta, how many SITs have come to conclusion. I was listening to the, you know,
19:22the SIT chairman very, very carefully what he said that he needs 15, 20 days more to, you know,
19:30go to the depth of it, you know. So, this is absolutely, you know, absurd. Why are it taking
19:37such a lot of time? Because, and why the FIRS has not been, you know. But Vivek, you know,
19:44you are saying that why is it taking such a lot of time? Don't you think you would have criticized,
19:48had it been a hurried report? You would have said, why is proper attention not being given?
19:55You are rushing into giving a clean chit. That would have been your side, you know, perhaps even
20:01saying that this is not the right investigation, that the investigation has not been proper.
20:06It's important to have this investigated through and through. If there are lapses and the entire system
20:15has to be questioned, if there are negligence at multiple levels, then that's a subject of investigation.
20:22You know, Mr. Nipendra Mishra, you know, who is the head of the construction department at the Ram
20:27Temple, he himself said there has been huge amount of discrepancy in the trust, you know.
20:34He himself has said, you know, it's not the Samajwadi party that is what, who is saying that.
20:40You know, how was the trust formed? It was a, you know, order given by the Honorable Supreme
20:45Court to the PMO to form a trust. And the PMO had formed this trust, you know, who has come
20:50out to be so corrupt. We have seen land scams in Ayodhya, 2 crore land being sold for 16 crores,
20:572.93 crores of worth of land being sold for 24 crores, 9 crores of worth of land being sold
21:04for 55 crores. And Rishikesh Padya, you know, the mayor of Ayodhya was involved in that and
21:10he kept on screaming and telling the media that nothing happened, you know. It is, I'll tell
21:16you three names, Mahipal Singh, Rajneesh Singh and Sandosh Dubey who have been the car savers.
21:22They have given an application in the, you know, Ayodhya police station and the police is paying
21:28no hit to it, no FIR. You know, the thing, the problem is, if you are investigating, investigating
21:34it, investigate it very seriously. Okay.
21:37This is, this is an international issue now. Okay.
22:02You want me to respond or you have a specific question? Please go ahead. Respond to him.
22:07See, see, if there must be a must have been a FIR, you look at the Yogi police, if there
22:12must be a CBI, they'll say the Modi CBI. If there's a court member, they anyway don't
22:16believe on the court. On Monday, they believe on Tuesday, they don't believe. If there's
22:19a sitting jet, retired jet. Let's have Mr. Vivek also on the screen, please.
22:23Yes, go ahead. If the argument will not suit them, they will say police is wrong on a given
22:27day, SIT is wrong, CBI is wrong, court is wrong, sitting jet is wrong. So Samajbadi party can never be
22:33satisfied.
22:33I'll quote, I think, Silas Ji said land scam was in 2021. In 2021, just before the election,
22:40Pawan Pandey, the same Pawan Pandey, came in the press conference and quoted a land scam. The land
22:44scam was no scam. They never went to the police to file an FI. They're never going to pursue it.
22:51They never, see, Samajbadi party has all the incentive to shoot BJP wrong. Why don't you pursue it?
22:57Why are you not going to court? Let's listen to the police, the Yogi police is listening to the
23:01Shantanu. But Shantanu, why make it political? If there are concerns, then look at it as a concern
23:08of a citizen. Why make it like a political charge? No, no, because, because I'm just replying to
23:13Silas Ji that he's saying that land scam also happened. I'm saying land scam, let's approve it.
23:17See, I have a litmus test for any allegation made on a TV channel. If it doesn't go to the
23:22court,
23:22it's just an allegation. Because Samajbadi party has all the incentive to go to the court. They have the
23:27battery of lawyers with them. They have money to hire any lawyer. Kapil Sibbal is anyway very
23:33anti-Ram Mandir, so he will go on and drop off the hat to the court. Why are you not
23:38using them for
23:39land scam? Let's prove it. That's why I'm saying it's just a mere allegation. They have to
23:43take advantage of it. Faith of the people. Faith of the people was vichlit. I was vichlit
23:51today. Why Achlesh Yadav, Dimpal Yadav, Ram Narish Yadav, Shipal Yadav, why they have not been to
23:57Ram Mandir yet? It's hardly two hours from their place. That was vichlit. So all of a sudden,
24:02faith of the people, the cries coming from the people who used to kill Dinti Swetun people a couple of
24:07years back.
24:08No, but Shantanu, you know, the fact that the UP government went ahead and set up an SIT.
24:14On the request of the trust. On the request of the trust, Maria. Yes. So, because they certainly
24:19saw some merit in the allegation coming in from Achlesh Yadav. No, because Ram Mandir issue is so
24:27big. Ram Mandir has so much bhakti and any allegation, because see, Achlesh Yadav is not nobody,
24:32right? So any allegation made by him should be settled. So that's why the SIT is from
24:38and once if the allegations are proven, we will come back to the debate and I'll say
24:44anyone who's proven guilty, left, right and right, whatever, whatever in the court of law should
24:48be punished. But today, we sit in the media, we three have no, we don't, we are not private
24:54to SIT. Okay, I have just enough time for Vivek. And we are not even private to what happened in
24:57the
24:57procedure in the court. Yes. Okay, Vivek, 30 seconds, quickly. No, no, I just want to ask,
25:02why are the CCTVs, you know, deleted there, you know, what was the reason was the CCTV footage
25:07has been deleted. I said, don't believe in the Samajwadi party, don't believe in Pavan Pandey.
25:12A member of parliament from the Raj Sabha, Sanjay Singh from the Aam Admi party,
25:16went with proof to file a FIR in the Ayodhya police station, with proof, with date, with time,
25:23everything. Why was the, I'm talking about the land scan. Why was the application not taken?
25:29Did he go to the court against the police? This is very serious. Did he go to the court against
25:31the
25:31police? You know, because the Bharatiya in the party and these people like Shantanu Gupta
25:34are trying to shield the culprits. That is all, nothing more than that. They are shielding the culprits,
25:40you know. See, if I were them, if the police will not file the gampel, I'll go to the court.
25:45If one
25:45court is not doing, I'm going to the Supreme Court. Please do if you can.
25:53All right. Of course, you know, this is about faith and when it is about faith, all questions
25:58must be answered. Shantanu and Vivek, really appreciate your time. Thank you for joining us
26:04here. Of course, it's a story. We'll continue to track very, very closely. The SIT report has been
26:09submitted to the state government, details of which will emerge in perhaps in the next few days.
26:15That's all from me. Thanks so much for watching.
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