NEW DELHI—Opposition protests over the alleged theft of devotees' offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya continued across India on Tuesday, disrupting parliamentary proceedings and intensifying pressure on authorities as the Supreme Court assumed oversight of the investigation into the case.
Both houses of Parliament witnessed repeated interruptions as opposition lawmakers demanded accountability over the alleged misappropriation of temple donations and sought wider scrutiny of the management of contributions made by devotees. The protests added to political tensions during the opening days of the monsoon session, with legislative business repeatedly stalled.
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that the investigation be handled by a newly constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a senior Indian Police Service officer, replacing the local police. The court also directed the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to preserve records of donations received since construction of the temple began and said it would monitor the investigation. The bench cautioned political parties against politicising the matter, stressing that the priority should be transparency and accountability in handling public donations.
The case stems from allegations that cash offerings made by devotees were stolen during the counting process at the temple. Investigators have previously arrested several individuals, while the probe has expanded to examine additional employees and procedures connected with the handling of donations. Preliminary investigative findings cited by Indian media have pointed to alleged weaknesses in supervision and security during the counting process, although the investigation remains ongoing.
In response to the controversy, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has introduced new safeguards for counting donations, including deploying a fresh counting team, operating a two-shift system and conducting the process under the supervision of the State Bank of India. Trust representatives have said the measures are intended to strengthen transparency and restore public confidence while cooperating with investigators.
The Trust has previously rejected broader allegations regarding missing donated valuables, stating that all donated articles are accounted for and that those found responsible for any theft should face legal action.
The Supreme Court's monitoring of the SIT investigation is expected to continue as authorities pursue the inquiry, while opposition parties have indicated they will keep raising the issue during the current parliamentary session.
