Days after former Union Home Secretary S Laxmi Narayan publicly alleged that the 151-kg 24-carat gold-covered Ramcharitmanas he had donated to the temple in Ayodhya is now missing, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has refuted his claims.
The VHP has released a video of the gold-plated copy of the Ramcharitmanas donated by S Laxmi Narayan. The Hindu rights group also questioned the timing of Narayan’s allegations, as there is already a controversy ongoing about the embezzlement of Ayodhya Ram Mandir donations.
Back in 2023, S Laxmi Narayan and his wife Saraswati had famously donated a 151-kg Ramcharitmanas, made of copper and inscribed with gold letters, to the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The couple had amassed their life savings, including proceeds from the sale of some family properties, to commission the Ramcharitmanas, which cost around Rs 5 crore to make.
The ornate scripture features 10,902 verses inscribed on copper pages dipped in 24-carat gold with gold-studded lettering. It was presented to Ram Lalla on April 8, 2024, and initially placed for daily puja in front of the idol.
Speaking to India TV, Laxminarayan has stated that initially the Ramcharitmanas was kept in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, and he had also received photos of it, but it soon vanished from public view without any explanation, receipt, or acknowledgement from the Trust. Despite making four personal visits to Ayodhya, waiting hours on multiple occasions, and sending several letters and messages seeking clarification, he claims he received no satisfactory response. In his final interaction, Rai allegedly told him, “Whatever I want, I will do. Do not trouble me again and again.”
However, the VHP has now released a video confirming that the sacred text is not missing and is the possession of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust.
