Ayodhya: The political storm surrounding the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case intensified after Congress leader Rashid Alvi compared those accused in the controversy to medieval ruler Mahmud of Ghazni, saying both were linked to the "loot" of a temple—albeit in different eras.

The sharp remark came as questions continued to mount over allegations that crores of rupees donated by devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya were siphoned off, prompting calls for a high-level investigation.

Demanding a judicial probe, Alvi said the alleged misappropriation was not merely a financial crime but an assault on the faith of millions of devotees who contributed to the temple.

"This is theft, this is robbery, this is tampering with the faith of millions of people. There should not only be an investigation but a High Court or Supreme Court judge should conduct the investigation and all these people should be sent to jail," he said.

In his strongest attack yet, the Congress leader drew a controversial comparison with Mahmud of Ghazni, the 11th-century ruler known for raiding temples during military campaigns in the Indian subcontinent.

"I want to ask what is the difference between Mahmud of Ghazni and these people? He too had looted temples and these people have also looted the temple. He had no faith in temples but these people do have faith in temples... The strictest possible action should be taken," Alvi said.

What is the Ram Mandir donation scam allegation?

The remarks come against the backdrop of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities involving donations made at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on June 25 following directions from the Uttar Pradesh government. The case invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery and conspiracy.

The FIR names several people, including Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinnu Yadav, Manish Yadav among others.

The controversy gained traction after former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey alleged that between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore collected as donations from devotees had been misappropriated.

The Uttar Pradesh government later constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the allegations.

The SIT was formed on June 14 after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust sought an investigation into the claims. Officials are now examining financial records and other evidence linked to the alleged diversion of temple funds.

The case has rapidly evolved into a major political flashpoint, with opposition parties demanding accountability and transparency in the handling of donations received at one of India's most prominent religious sites.

With ANI inputs