Ayodhya: Hanuman Garhi temple priest Mahant Raju Das has criticised former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya over his remarks on the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case in Ayodhya, calling for action against the former minister and urging that the issue not be politicised.

The controversy stems from allegations made by Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan 'Pawan' Pandey, who claimed on June 7 that donations worth between ₹5 crore and ₹7.5 crore had been siphoned off from the Ram Temple's offerings. Following the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13 at the request of the temple trust to investigate the matter.

Speaking to ANI on Friday, Mahant Raju Das said the investigation should be allowed to proceed without political interference. Referring to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's earlier remarks, he said the truth would emerge through an impartial probe.

"CM Yogi Adityanath had said that we should all have some patience and everything will be clear," Das said. He added that eight people have been arrested in connection with the case and expressed confidence that anyone else found involved would also face legal action.

Das also criticised Swami Prasad Maurya over his comments on the issue. He alleged that Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma were being unfairly targeted in the debate surrounding the Ram Temple. Challenging Maurya, Das said he should make similar remarks about other religions if he wished to be consistent, and called for action against him over his statements.

Maurya's remarks have triggered political reactions from multiple quarters, adding to the debate surrounding the alleged donation irregularities.The SIT investigation into the alleged theft is ongoing, and authorities have not yet released any final findings regarding the claims of financial misappropriation.

Sources: Hindustan Times