Congress alleges another land scam in Ayodhya

New Delhi, June 20

The Opposition Congress today alleged another land purchase scam by the Ram Temple trust in Ayodhya and demanded a Supreme Court-monitored time-bound investigation into the matter.

Party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged a BJP leader bought 890 sq m land in Ayodhya for Rs 20 lakh in February and sold it to the temple trust for Rs 2.5 crore, at a profit of 1,250 per cent in 79 days. “Lord Ram’s temple is being constructed as per orders of the Supreme Court. Is it not the responsibility of the SC and its judges and the Prime Minister, who formed the trust, to ascertain the truth? Shouldn’t the SC take cognisance of the matter?” he said. Last week also, the party had alleged that the trust bought a piece of land for Rs 18.5 crore, which the transferor had bought for Rs 2 crore just a few months earlier.

Trust official Champat Rai had maintained that the land was originally bought for Rs 2 crore and registered accordingly on March 18, but its onward sale to the trust was at the current market price, which had increased since the SC ordered the temple construction. In that case also, the Congress had demanded a court-monitored probe. — TNS