RANCHI, July 12 -- Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra minister Manikrao Thakre on Saturday targeted the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments over the Ram Mandir donation scam, alleging that despite UP CM Adityanath's visit to Ayodhya, neither the BJP nor the state government had fixed any concrete accountability regarding this matter. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Thakre said the report by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case had revealed several serious irregularities, yet the government had not offered any official explanation. Questioning PM Modi's silence on the entire episode, Thakre asked who would take responsibility for the scam given that the Trust was formed under the PM's supervision. "If everything was above board, why did Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra have to resign? If no irregularities occurred, why is the government afraid of an independent inquiry monitored by the Supreme Court? Why is the axe falling only on low-level employees when the entire Trust is under scrutiny? Is the 'double-engine' government shielding the major culprits?" he added. The former minister demanded that PM Modi must come forward and clarify the PMO's role in the Trust's formation and its administrative oversight and called for the immediate registration of an FIR and the arrest of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and other influential individuals involved in the scam. "There should be an impartial judicial inquiry into the entire matter under the supervision of the Supreme Court. The current Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust should be immediately dissolved and a new, transparent trust constituted, comprising religious leaders, eminent citizens, and experts. An independent forensic audit of all donations, offerings, land transactions, and event-related expenses should be done and the report should be made public. The Congress maintains that Lord Ram is not the exclusive property of any political party but an object of faith for crores of Indians," he added. Thakre said the acceptance of the resignations of Rai and Mishra proved that the matter was not merely an administrative lapse but a major scam. "Meanwhile, Krishna Mohan, RSS in-charge for Eastern Uttar Pradesh, has been appointed as the Trust's new general secretary, though he is already facing allegations of suppressing the matter and engaging in a cover-up," he said. The leader said SIT was now also probing the expenses incurred om temple events. "It has come to light that approximately Rs.113 crore was spent on hosting 8,000 guests during the consecration ceremony on January 22, 2024, and about Rs.10.12 crore on the flag-hoisting ceremony on November 25, 2025. Additionally, there are numerous allegations involving fake receipts and misappropriation of offerings," Thakre added. "The SIT report has exposed significant negligence on the part of the Trust and its banking partner, the State Bank of India. The investigation uncovered 70 instances where staff members responsible for counting currency were found concealing loose cash and bundles of notes in their clothing, pockets, and shoes. Despite CCTV surveillance, mandatory searches of individuals entering and exiting the room were not conducted. Even after such serious irregularities, the SIT recommended FIR against only eight employees," he said....