Swami Govindanand Saraswati, a disciple of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, has made serious allegations in connection with the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation controversy. Speaking to news agency ANI in Mumbai on Wednesday (June 14), he claimed that even after the formation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand traveled to nearly 1,000 villages and collected gold and donations. According to him, Avimukteshwaranand had announced that he would build the Ram Temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site.
Letter Sent to SIT, Claims Evidence Exists
Govindanand Saraswati said he has sent a letter to the Special Investigation Team (SIT). He claimed that he possesses documents and evidence supporting his allegations. Govindanand Saraswati said the Trust, CM Yogi, and the SIT to conduct both internal and external investigations into the matter.
He further alleged that Swami Avimukteshwaranand was the first person to misuse donations collected in the name of the Ram Temple. He demanded strict punishment, seizure of all properties, and imprisonment if the allegations are proven. Govindanand Saraswati and Avimukteshwaranand are considered spiritual brothers as they belonged to the same guru tradition.
No Response from Avimukteshwaranand Yet
Swami Avimukteshwaranand is currently on a cow protection yatra and was in Moradabad on Wednesday. However, reporters could not obtain his response because he entered a period of silence and meditation later in the evening.
“Only the Trust Had the Right to Collect Donations”
Govindanand Saraswati said that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust came into existence on February 5, 2020. After that date, only the Trust had the authority to collect donations for temple construction. Despite this, he alleged that on February 7, 2020, Swami Avimukteshwaranand launched the “Ram-Ram Gram-Gram Abhiyan” in Varanasi and announced a campaign to collect gold. He claimed that this move went against the Supreme Court’s directions, the Central Government’s guidelines, and the Trust’s authority.
Gold and Silver Allegedly Moved After Guru’s Death
Govindanand Saraswati also alleged that his guru, Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, had collected crores of rupees, gold, and silver from devotees across the country for the Ram Temple. After the guru’s death in 2022, he claimed that Swami Avimukteshwaranand took possession of the gold, silver, and other valuable items and stored them at Shri Vidya Math.
Complaint Filed Earlier as Well
He said that on June 26, 2024, he wrote letters to CM of different states, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and the Ayodhya police station regarding the issue. He also claimed that he informed Trust General Secretary Champat Rai about the alleged irregularities through phone calls and written communication.
Demand for Probe Into Gold Collection Campaign
Govindanand Saraswati urged the SIT to first investigate how much gold and how many donations Swami Avimukteshwaranand allegedly collected from around 1,000 villages. He further alleged that people in Varanasi were encouraged to purchase gold from selected individuals. He also claimed that gold, diamonds, and other valuable items were later sold in places including Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Key Demands Raised by Govindanand Saraswati
- Conduct an internal and external investigation into the Ram Temple donation collection campaign.
- Make public the complete record of the gold, silver, and other valuables allegedly collected.
- Seize the properties of those found guilty and take legal action if the allegations are proven during the investigation.
