Rahul Gandhi, along with two other Members of Parliament, has been booked in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly insulting Sanatan Dharma during a protest related to the alleged embezzlement of donations made to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The charge sheet was filed at Kotwali police station on Saturday, following a protest staged by members of the INDIA bloc, including Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. During the demonstration, the MPs performed a skit in which they dropped money into a donation box, while Independent MP Pappu Yadav, dressed in saffron robes, pretended to remove the money and place it in his pockets. The protest followed claims that funds collected for the construction of the Ram temple were being misappropriated. The protest was part of a broader political dispute surrounding the handling of donations to the temple. A first information report (FIR) was registered based on a complaint from Jagadguru Balak Das, the head of the Patalpuri Math, a Hindu religious organization. The FIR alleges that the accused committed acts intended to outrage religious feelings and uttered words with the deliberate intent to wound the religious sentiments of others. The charges are under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which criminalizes actions that could be perceived as disrespectful to religious beliefs. The controversy over the alleged embezzlement of donations began in early June when a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed at the request of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The SIT, comprising three officials, was tasked with investigating the handling of donations. Its preliminary report, submitted to the Uttar Pradesh home department on June 23, revealed 70 instances of counting staff allegedly hiding bundles of notes and loose cash in their clothing, pockets, and shoes. The report also pointed to systemic failures within the trust and the State Bank of India, which serves as the bank for the trust. It further implicated trustee Anil Mishra, a leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, for weakening security measures in the counting room. Despite these findings, the SIT did not recommend any action against Mishra. However, one of Champat Rai’s aides, who is also a senior official in the trust, was included in the list of individuals to be investigated by the police. Champat Rai, the former general secretary of the trust, and Mishra both resigned from their positions in response to the allegations. Meanwhile, another senior figure, Gopal Rao, was removed from all temple-related duties. Champat Rai, who has been largely secluded from public life since the controversy began, made his first public appearance in Ayodhya on Tuesday. He visited the Tapasvi Chhawani temple, where he was welcomed by the chief priest, Paramhans Acharya. The two held a private meeting, though details of the conversation were not disclosed. Acharya praised Rai’s role in constructing the Ram temple and urged the public to continue respecting him. He stated that Rai would remain in Ayodhya until his death, emphasizing the community’s support for him despite the ongoing allegations. Rai, in a handwritten letter posted on social media, denied the accusations, calling them “baseless.” He expressed his intention to address the allegations once the SIT completes its investigation. Despite his resignation, he has not issued a detailed public statement regarding the matter. The situation continues to draw attention from legal authorities, political parties, and the public, with the Supreme Court having taken notice of the case. As the investigation unfolds, the fate of those implicated remains uncertain.
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