The Digital Mirror of India
KD Tiwari, a sevadar at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir, has denied allegations of purchasing land worth ₹1.5 crore using temple funds.
He clarified that the property was bought by his sons before he began his service at the temple in March 2024.
A three-member SIT has been formed to investigate the ₹7 crore theft allegations related to the temple.
Ongoing investigation into Ram Mandir donation theft allegat · NewsDarpan AI
The controversy surrounding the alleged theft of ₹7 crore from donations at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir has intensified. A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the allegations. Amid this, Krishna Dev Tiwari, also known as KD Tiwari, a sevadar at the temple, has come forward to refute accusations against him.
Speaking to Divya Bhaskar, KD Tiwari denied claims of purchasing land worth ₹1.5 crore using temple funds. He stated that his two sons had purchased the property in December 2023, prior to his joining the temple as a sevadar in March 2024. Tiwari emphasized that linking these properties to his temple service was baseless.
Tiwari further explained his responsibilities at the temple, which included collecting gold, silver, and other offerings from devotees, weighing them, issuing receipts, and handing them over to the trust's officials. He clarified that he had no knowledge of what happened to the offerings afterward.
Separately, Santosh Dubey, president of Dharma Sena and a former accused in the Babri demolition case, has leveled serious allegations against some trust officials and employees. He claimed there were irregularities in the management of donations and other assets collected during the Ram Mandir movement. Dubey also alleged that over 1,200 consecrated stones went missing in 2000 under the supervision of Champat Rai, a trust official.
The investigation into the theft claims is ongoing, with the trust reportedly conducting inquiries with suspicious employees. No FIR has been filed yet.