State Investigation Team, Lucknow5 hours ago
“You will be able to have darshan at Ram Mandir. We will get the protocol issued from the Magistrate’s office, then the Sub-Inspector himself will take you and arrange the darshan.”
This is the statement of Shubham Dubey, a tout who arranges darshan outside the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He is part of a gang that arranges darshan for money. The charge is ₹7,300. In reality, there is no fee for darshan at Ram Mandir.
Even after the revelation of theft of offerings at Ram Mandir, Champat Rai might have been removed from the temple’s management, but the system has not improved. Here, some influential people are still running a darshan nexus. For money, these people are also getting photos and reels made in the restricted area of the temple. This is charged separately. Dainik Bhaskar conducted an investigation into this. Read the full revelation.
In our investigation, 3 ways of arranging darshan for money at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir came to light, which are as follows-
1- VVIP Protocol in the name of Minister-Officer: Brokers take money in the name of officers-ministers and arrange darshan. This includes police personnel and employees stationed at the VIP gate, who are running a darshan nexus in collusion with brokers.
2- With Mahants-Priests: In this, after taking money, mahants-priests themselves accompany and arrange darshan. Hotel owners provide them with customers.
3- Passes even when slots are full: In this, entry passes are being sold for money even when slot bookings on the website are full. This involves collusion between temple employees and brokers.
We contacted broker Shubham Dubey outside the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Shubham made a deal to arrange darshan under VVIP protocol.
Darshan Nexus-1
Reporter : Will VVIP darshan be possible?
Shubham : Yes, we will arrange it. Someone will go with you and facilitate the darshan.
Reporter : At what time will you arrange the darshan?
Shubham : We can arrange the darshan right now. We will get a wireless message from the Magistrate’s office, and VVIP entry will be arranged. Then you can show your Aadhaar card and go straight inside.
Reporter : Who will accompany us?
Shubham : The Daroga (Sub-Inspector) will go with you and arrange your darshan. If the police accompany you, the darshan will be excellent. You all come at 4 PM.
Reporter : There won’t be any problem, right?
Shubham: No problem. With the pass, you will go in the VIP line, but the Sub-Inspector will take you to VVIP. Your protocol will arrive via wireless from the Magistrate’s office. Your VVIP darshan will be guaranteed.
Sub-Inspector facilitated darshan for ₹7,300, made a reel in a restricted area
Shubham introduced us to another tout, Vimal Mishra. He took ₹7,300 from us and took us to the gate. Here, he introduced us to Sub-Inspector Rajesh Kumar. Then, after depositing mobile, wallet, and other belongings in the gate’s locker, Vimal and Sub-Inspector Rajesh took us for darshan. Photo-video is prohibited in the temple premises, but in the presence of the Sub-Inspector himself, tout Vimal took our photos and also made a reel.
Now we reached Hanumangarhi to have darshan at Ram Mandir through priests. Here we met hotelier Manoj. He introduced us to Arun Pandey, who was selling prasad. Arun called priest Pawandas. Pawandas made a deal to take us to Ram Mandir for darshan.
Darshan Nexus-2
Reporter: Maharaj ji, will you arrange the darshan?
Pawandas: Yes, we will arrange it.
Reporter: How much will it cost?
Pawandas: I told you, it will cost ₹1,200.
Reporter: No, please reduce it a bit. Okay, take ₹1,000.
Pawandas: Alright, fine.
After this, priest Pawandas took us to the VIP gate of the Ram Mandir. Here, he submitted photocopies of our Aadhar cards. Then, he took us along and arranged VIP darshan of Ramlala and Ram Darbar.
Despite slot booking being full, can a darshan pass be made by paying money? To find this out, we met broker Mohandas. He has a nexus with the Ram Mandir staff. He arranged for the darshan pass and sent it through his brother Ganesh.
Darshan Nexus-3
Ganesh : Your passes have been made.
Reporter : Give us the passes.
Ganesh : What will you do with the passes? You’re concerned with VIP darshan, aren’t you? VIP darshan will happen.
Reporter : What did we pay you for? We need the passes?
Ganesh: Okay, wait, we are getting them for you. (Then Ganesh called someone and got the passes. He said) See, your passes are ready. You can take a photo of this.
(We took photos of the passes that came on Ganesh’s phone)
Ganesh: When I’ve given my word, it won’t be wrong. Look, check your name and Aadhaar number on the pass, it’s correct, isn’t it?
SSP said action will be taken against those who charge money for darshan
Ayodhya SSP Dr. Gaurav Grover said, ‘Normal and easy darshan at Ram Mandir are completely free. For some saints, seers, or specific individuals in Ayodhya, proper passes are issued for easy/VIP darshan. The police have no role in this.’
