Kolkata: Opposition parties accused the Ram Mandir Trust set up by the centre last year of pulling off an illicit land deal in Ayodhya of financial corruption worth crores of rupees in the purchase of a piece of land for the temple project.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) claims the transaction took place in March this year. It involved two real estate dealers allegedly purchasing a property from an individual for ₹ 2 crores and selling it -- minutes later -- to the Trust for ₹ 18.5 crores. They demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Santanu said, “Expect Central Team to rush to #Ayodhya to probe into #RamMandirScam. Land price increased from 2cr to 18.5cr in 5 mn. Want clarification from International Leader @narendramodi who fixes three prices for same #COVIDVaccines& speaks about"One World One Health Policy"inG7Meeting.”

India's former External Affairs Minister and senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Yashwant Sinha lashes out and PM Modi on Ram Mandir Trust scam by saying “Ram ka Saath, Modi ka Vishwas our Hamara Vikas. Had hi ho gayee. Ram ko Bhi Nahi chhora. Ab kya bacha? Modi hai to mumkin hai.”
TMC MLA Madan Mitra wrote, "If Lord Ram would have been watching the land transactions in Ayodhya even He would have said - Hey Ram"

On the other hand Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Champat Rai called allegations of fraud in buying land for the Ram Mandir as misleading and politically motivated, adding that all temple land bought so far was at below open market price

"Allegations (of fraud) are misleading and motivated by political hatred. All the lands that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has purchased so far have been bought at a price much less than the market price," a statement issued by the Trust said.

"After the Supreme Court decided on Shri Ram Janmabhoomi on November 9, 2019, innumerable people from across the country started coming to Ayodhya to buy land so the Land prices have increased. The plot on which newspaper discussion is being conducted is a very prominent place near the railway station," Rai said.

He added that buying and selling of the land are being done based on mutual dialogue and consent.

“After taking consent, the consent form is signed. All types of court fees and stamp papers are being purchased online. The purchase of land is being done based on the consent letter, accordingly, the entire value is transferred online to the seller's account," he said.

"Some political leaders are misleading people. It is meant to mislead society, the people concerned are political and hence motivated by political hatred," Rai claimed.