DEORIA (UP) — Drawing a hard line against political detractors, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that state police have arrested all eight suspects accused of embezzling Ram Temple donations, declaring that “no one will be allowed to play with people’s faith.”
The arrests were carried out by the UP Police on Thursday night, moving swiftly on the heels of a preliminary report submitted by a state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT). The underlying FIR had been filed at the instance of Krishna Mohan, a trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Investigative Mandate and Counter-Attack
Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Grover confirmed that the eight individuals are currently in custody undergoing interrogation ahead of their scheduled court appearance.
Addressing a public gathering, Adityanath used the swift law enforcement action to mount a fierce defense of the temple town and launch a counter-offensive against opposition critics:
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SIT Adherence: The Chief Minister emphasized that the administration followed a strict legal pipeline, initiating arrests the moment professional investigators delivered their initial findings.
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Challenge to Detractors: He challenged opposition figures to present concrete proof to the SIT rather than manufacturing media controversies, stating, “If there is no evidence, stop the propaganda.”
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Clash with Kejriwal: Adityanath directly targeted AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal—who had labeled the police action a “sham” during an Ayodhya visit earlier that day—alleging that Kejriwal’s long tenure in Delhi was marked only by “destruction and corruption.”
The Chief Minister concluded by demanding an immediate end to political rhetoric while the active investigation moves toward its final judicial conclusion.
