LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh assembly speaker Satish Mahana stirred a row on Wednesday with his remarks on the alleged Ram temple donation theft case, saying those who believed their donations had been stolen “may not have offered it with genuine devotion”.“Those who think their donation was stolen may not have offered it with genuine devotion, so perhaps their money was stolen. Our money is invested in the temple, and the current form of the temple is proof of this,” Mahana said.Clarifying his remarks later, Mahana told reporters on Wednesday, “Has anyone ever asked for donated money back? Think of anything donated in society, has anyone ever asked for it to be returned? If someone asks, they are ready to return the money. As I said, I dedicated a small sum at the feet of the Lord; I feel that the contribution I made is part of this magnificent temple.“People’s money has indeed gone into it. If someone wants it back—someone who feels their money was stolen—the government and the trust are taking action regarding the theft.”“Regardless of whether the person involved holds a low-ranking or high-ranking position, action must be taken against them. That is one aspect; however, the idea that the entire organisation which struggled for the Ram Janmabhoomi movement consists of thieves is something that cannot be accepted under any circumstances,” he added further.Mahana further said, “I have been associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement from the very beginning. Today, the magnificent temple that stands there is the fruit of people’s faith, dedication, selflessness, and sacrifice spanning four hundred years. Now, those who once hesitated to even say ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ who insisted that a mosque should remain there, or even suggested building a toilet at the site—and who contributed nothing to the Ram Temple—are suddenly expressing concern.““No one is defending those who committed theft. Has theft never occurred in any institution or sector in this country? Those who stole were caught, and everyone agrees that action should be taken against them. However, it is entirely unfair to put everyone associated with that institution in the dock,” he said.His remarks came as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft of donations to Ayodhya’s Ram temple identified nine major procedural and security lapses that allegedly enabled large-scale embezzlement.According to the SIT, counting personnel were not frisked before entering or leaving the cash-counting hall, mandatory pocketless uniforms were not enforced, employees were allowed to carry personal belongings into the counting room, and cash from different donation boxes was mixed before counting.Investigators also found no denomination-wise inventory or certification records were maintained, while biometric attendance of counting staff was not effectively implemented.The SIT concluded that these lapses collectively dismantled the financial and physical safeguards meant to protect temple donations.The alleged embezzlement came to light in the first week of June, following which the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT).An FIR was registered on June 25 on the basis of the SIT’s preliminary report. Eight persons associated with the temple’s donation-counting process have been arrested in the case so far
