GOA, JULY 4: Recent administrative measures regarding the Ayodhya Shri Ram Mandir Trust, including the formation of a Special Investigation Team and subsequent arrests, are being described as superficial actions designed to divert public attention. Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, during an address in Goa alongside state In-charge Atishi, asserted that the entire sequence of events points toward an effort by central leadership to allegedly protect high-ranking officials responsible for discrepancies in land acquisitions and temple construction tenders. The opposition maintains that the executive authorities were repeatedly updated on these matters through official channels but chose to take no meaningful corrective action.
The controversy stems from a series of real estate transactions dating back to 2021, where land values reportedly escalated manifold within minutes before being acquired by the Trust. Documents currently in the public domain detail multiple instances of inflated property acquisitions, alongside reports of missing assets, including significant quantities of silver, traditional ornaments, and cash reserves totaling approximately ₹200 crore. Security footage from the premises reportedly captured numerous instances of unauthorized handling of offerings before a substantial portion of the recordings was deleted.
State leadership declared that the structural integrity of the investigation remains legally compromised and incapable of delivering accountability.
“This SIT is illegal and has no powers,” Arvind Kejriwal maintained. “It cannot arrest anyone, conduct raids or even issue summons.” He pointed out that when documentation regarding the land acquisitions was officially submitted, investigative authorities claimed the transactions fell completely outside their operational jurisdiction, rendering the body ineffective.
Critics stated that the recent law enforcement actions targeting lower-tier personnel do not align with standard judicial or investigative protocols.
“They have now registered a ‘farzi’ FIR and arrested eight low-level employees who merely counted cash,” asserted the Aam Aadmi Party Chief. “The most surprising part is that when someone is arrested, the police normally seek custody to question them about where the theft took place and where the money has been hidden. In this case, the police sought no custody, conducted no interrogation and sent them straight to judicial custody.”
The opposition further declared that despite high-profile resignations within the Trust management, the internal operational hierarchy remains unchanged.
“Two people, including Champat Rai, have resigned,” stated Arvind Kejriwal. “But reports from Ayodhya continue to say that Champat Rai is still running the mandir. That is why these resignations, arrests and FIRs are all a sham.” He affirmed that the administration was fully briefed on these developments via multiple Intelligence Bureau reports, yet chose to actively shield its close associates.
