New Delhi: Former Union Home Secretary and retired IAS officer S. Lakshmi Narayan has alleged that a gold-plated copy of the Ramcharitmanas, donated by him to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, is no longer traceable. He has claimed that the manuscript was worth around ₹5 crore and has sought an independent investigation into the matter.
The allegation has surfaced amid continuing scrutiny of donations and financial management linked to the Ram Mandir Trust. The claims have not been established in court and remain subject to verification by competent authorities.
Gold-Plated Manuscript Donated In 2024
According to Lakshmi Narayan, the specially prepared Ramcharitmanas was donated to the trust in April 2024. He claimed that the manuscript weighed more than 100 kilograms and contained hundreds of pages coated with gold.
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He said the religious manuscript was prepared using his family’s savings and personal resources. He also alleged that no receipt was issued when the manuscript was handed over to the temple trust.
Former Official Seeks SIT Probe
Lakshmi Narayan alleged that when he later enquired about the manuscript, he could not get a satisfactory explanation regarding its whereabouts. He said he contacted senior functionaries associated with the temple trust and construction committee but did not receive a clear resolution.
He has now sought an impartial inquiry by a Special Investigation Team to establish whether the manuscript is safely preserved, misplaced or missing.
PIL Seeks Independent Probe Into Trust Finances
Separately, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh has moved the Supreme Court seeking an independent probe into alleged financial irregularities in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The petition reportedly seeks a court-monitored investigation, preservation of financial records, forensic audit and greater transparency in the handling of donations and assets. The matter remains pending before the judicial process, and the allegations will be determined only after proper inquiry.
