Congress demands SC monitored probe in alleged Ram temple trust land scam

Attacking the BJP for duping lord Ram, Congress on Monday demanded a Supreme Court monitored probe into alleged Ram temple trust land scam.

Addressing a virtual press meet, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Prime Minister Modi should come clean on the issue. Wondering whether scamsters have protection from the PM, Surjewala said, “How can BJP leaders commit fraud of this kind in the name of Ram?”

The Congress spokesperson also demanded “revaluation of the land purchased for the construction of the temple.”

“PM should order a Supreme Court monitored probe into the matter and an audit report be made public before the people of the country,” added Surjewala.

Ram Temple Trust was formed at the direction of the apex court after a prolonged legal battle over the disputed land in Ayodhya.

On Sunday, the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party accused Ram Janmabhoomi Trust of engaging in a huge land scam and money laundering after documents pertaining to the alleged land scam were made public.

As per the documents available in public domain Sultan Ahmed and Ravi Mohan Tiwari purchased land (Khata number 243/244/246) from Kusum Pathak and Harish Pathak for Rs 2 crore. The market price of that land was said to be around Rs 5.80 crore.

Then the land was sold to the Ramjanmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra Trust for Rs 18.50 crores and Rs 17 crores were transferred to the main owner Sultan Ahmed and Ravi Mohan Tiwari through RTGS. The whole process was carried out in a short time, show documents.

Despite this, the Trust has denied allegations of corruption levelled by opposition parties in the aforementioned land purchase.

Saying that the current sellers had a registered agreement years ago at a price, and after the “bainama” (sale deed) on March 18, they sold it to the Trust, a statement signed by Trust secretary Champat Rai, says, “After the Supreme Court order, a lot of people started coming to Ayodhya to purchase land, and as the UP government is also purchasing a lot of land for development works, the land price increased suddenly. The land on which discussion has started is very close to the railway station and therefore, is at a very important location. All the land purchased by the Trust is purchased at a price much lower than the market price.”