- SIT probes L&T employee Mahesh Kumar in Ram Temple donation theft.
- Kumar allegedly bought 20 properties on Rs 15,000 salary.
- SIT investigation nearing completion, report expected by July 15.
Jagran Correspondent, Ayodhya: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Ram Temple donation theft case has found evidence linking another suspect, an employee of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), a company involved in the temple's construction.
Mahesh Kumar, a native of Basti district, lived as a tenant at the home of Ramshankar Yadav Tinnu, an accused in the theft case. He got along well with Tinnu and the two were often seen together. Although he was not on duty in the counting room, he handled accounting work and prepared TeleSheets. Investigators have found that his assets have increased exorbitantly over the past year.
A complaint has been filed with SIT member and Lucknow IG Zone Kiran S and other competent officials, including the Chief Minister, to investigate Mahesh Kumar's assets and his role.
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A resident of Mahesh's village in Basti district, has submitted a complaint to the Inspector General of Police (IG)'s PRO, Mukul Prakash Verma, along with evidence related to the purchase of the immovable property. The complainant has also requested the SIT to keep his name confidential.
According to the complaint, Mahesh Kumar, who claimed to be an L&T employee, purchased six bighas of land in the neighbouring village of Garhaharaja for Rs 90 lakh on June 12, shortly after the bribe theft was exposed, and in the neighbouring village of Benipur, 0.2540 hectares in plot number 192 and 0.3760 hectares in plot number 159 at the rate of Rs 12 lakh per bigha.
Mahesh purchased these plots in the names of his brother Ramesh Kumar, his wife, his brother's wife, his sister, his brother-in-law, and his nephew. According to the complaint, his brother Ramesh Kumar is unemployed, while Mahesh Kumar receives a monthly honorarium of Rs 15,000-18,000.
Purchased 20 Properties In A Year
According to the allegations, Mahesh Kumar, who claims to be a member of the trust in his village, purchased approximately 20 immovable properties in Darshan Nagar, Ayodhya, and Basti, Lucknow, and Prayagraj within a year. The documents of the same have also been provided to the SIT.
Jagran sources claim that a member of the SIT summoned him to their Lucknow office and questioned him. Meanwhile, L&T Project Director Vinod Kumar Mehta stated that his company never employed anyone with that name and address.
It is likely that Mahesh Kumar was an employee of L&T GeoStructures, a subsidiary of L&T, which performed piling work during the temple's foundation excavation.
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SIR Wrapping Up Investigation
The SIT has now nearly completed its investigation into the donation theft case. According to the government's deadline, it is scheduled to submit its final report by July 15, but this timeframe may be extended by two or three days.
The team members are likely to come to Ayodhya and record the statements of former and present office bearers of the Trust. Only after this will the final investigation report be submitted to the government. Some other accused are also likely to be included in this report. These could be people associated with the bank, trust, and temple, as well as those involved in security and census.