On Wednesday (14th August), the Ayodhya district administration issued a clarification after a contractor filed an FIR alleging large-scale theft of fancy lights on Ram Path and Bhakti Path in the temple town. Speaking to reporters, Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal said that a large-scale theft is improbable due to strict security and the height of the lights. He said that the possibility is emerging that the lights were never installed installed in the first place, and added that the Development Authority is probing it. He assured that action would be taken against the contractor if his complaint turns out to be false.
Speaking with reporters, Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal said, “The issue is being blown out of proportion, being exaggerated. Some ornamental lights were installed on trees, and in areas that were not well lit. Small bamboo lights were installed. The contractor has not been awarded the payment. Now it is his claim that many of the lights affixed on top of the trees have been stolen. It is not possible. It was such a difficult task to install lights on trees, theft on such a large scale is improbable…so there is a possibility that the lights were never installed. The Development Authority is investigating this.”
The development authority discovered discrepancies in the number of installed lights versus those reported stolen, the district administration has pointed out, as per news agency IANS.
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh: Reports of stolen fancy lights along Ram Path were clarified by the district administration, noting that a large-scale theft is improbable due to strict security. The development authority discovered discrepancies in the number of installed lights versus… pic.twitter.com/smPahsJC7G
— IANS (@ians_india) August 14, 2024
The Divisional Commissioner added, “It is possible that the contractor gave such a complaint in the police station to create a defence for himself. Ayodhya has such tight security and on busy streets, theft on such a large scale is an impossible task. The issue is being exaggerated.”
He further stated that as per the contract, the maintenance of these lights is the duty of the contractor for a period of one year. If anything happens to these lights, the contractor is responsible and liable for it. The official added that there is no issue of security lapse and that the contractor has not been paid yet. The allegations levelled by the contractor are being probed. And if the complaint is found to be wrong, action will be taken against him, the Divisional Commissioner noted.
It is pertinent to note that earlier in the day, it was widely reported in the media that a contractor named Shekhar Sharma filed an FIR in the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station alleging the theft of 3,800 bamboo lights installed on the trees of Ram Path and 36 gobo projector lights on Bhakti Path, worth over Rs 50 lakh. As per reports, Sharma is a representative of the firm Yash Enterprises and Krishna Automobiles that had bagged the contract for installing lights in the temple town.
According to the FIR, as many as 6,400 bamboo lights were installed on Ram Path and 96 gobo projector lights on Bhakti Path by the firm.
Shekhar Sharma said, “Till 19 March, all the lights were there but after an inspection on May 9, it was found that some lights were missing. Till now around 3,800 bamboo lights and 36 projector lights have been stolen by some unknown thieves.”
According to the FIR, the firm came to know about the ‘theft’ in May but filed the complaint on 9th August. However, now the Ayodhya administration has denied the theft allegations, and accused the contractor himself of probably not installing the lights in the first place and then filing false FIR alleging theft.
