Row over alleged theft of donations from Ayodhya Ram temple

The authorities handling donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya have come under the scanner following allegations that crores of rupees donated by devotees have been embezzled.

The claims have led to demands for an independent investigation, sharp attacks on the ruling BJP by opposition parties and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe ordered by the Uttar Pradesh government.

How the controversy began

The issue first came to light after former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey alleged that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore in donations made to the Ram temple have been stolen or embezzled.

Opposition leaders amplified the allegations, questioned the handling of temple funds and demanded transparency from the temple administration.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has rejected the allegations. 

Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj said all transactions are properly recorded and handled transparently. 

General Secretary Champat Rai also denied claims of any embezzlement.

Legal action

The controversy soon entered the courts.

Advocate Mohit Ashok filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on 12 June after earlier sending representations on 8 June to the Uttar Pradesh principal secretary (vigilance), the Ram temple trust, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other authorities, per news agency ANI. 

His representation is based on reports suggesting irregularities and possible embezzlement in the Ram temple project, he said.

He claimed that after the representation was submitted, senior trust official Nipendra Mishra visited Ayodhya on 9 June and held meetings regarding the matter.

Discussions were held between 9 June and 12 June about forming an inquiry committee headed by two retired Allahabad High Court judges, Ashok said.

Hurriedly approached by the temple trust following the PIL, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member SIT, he added.

What the petitioner is demanding

The PIL seeks an inquiry into the allegations regarding donations. Ashok has demanded:

• A CBI investigation into the entire district administration's role in land and financial transactions related to the temple project.
• A comprehensive audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
• A forensic examination of the Trust's financial activities from its formation until the present.

Ashok has also questioned the legitimacy of the SIT probe itself.

SIT under scrutiny

One of the key disputes is over whether the SIT has the authority to investigate the trust. 

Ashok said the SIT lacks statutory or legal standing to probe the trust's affairs.

He also raised practical concerns, asking how whistleblowers or individuals with evidence are supposed to approach the SIT, claiming there is no publicly available mechanism for submitting documents or contacting investigators.

He pointed to delays in the investigation process, saying that despite assurances that findings would be submitted within days, no final report has yet been made public.

According to him, these issues undermine confidence in the probe and strengthen the case for a CBI investigation and CAG audit.

Action by UP govt

On 14 June, the UP government constituted a three-member SIT to investigate the allegations.

The SIT consists of Vijay Vishwas Pant, divisional commissioner, Lucknow; Kiran S, inspector general (range); and Neel Ratan, special secretary, finance.

The team was tasked with submitting preliminary and final reports at the earliest. 

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has repeatedly defended the decision to order an SIT probe, saying it was constituted at the request of the trust.

Adityanath urged political parties and devotees not to draw conclusions before the investigation is completed. 

He appealed to anyone possessing documentary evidence to submit it to the SIT and said the probe will "separate truth from falsehood."

"I request everyone and all parties involved to refrain from making baseless comments or statements that hurt the sentiments of Ram devotees. If anyone has any documentary evidence, they should kindly submit it to the SIT," Yogi said in Ayodhya, per ANI.

"We waited for 500 years; now wait another 15 days. Do not be misled by those who seek to defame Ayodhya and insult the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. Today, through misinformation campaigns, they are trying to insult Ayodhya Dham, the foremost among our sacred pilgrimage cities. They spread false propaganda," he said.

"If anyone is guilty, whoever they may be, they will not be spared – this is certain. What can these people teach us, those who treated Ram devotees in such a manner?"

Opposition's allegations

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded an impartial investigation and described the Uttar Pradesh government's silence on the issue as "suspicious."

He called for judicial intervention, public release of CCTV footage and an independent inquiry into the allegations. 

He also mocked Adityanath by asking for an SIT to investigate the latter's "record-breaking Ayodhya visits."

Shiv Sena (UBT) has launched some of the strongest attacks on the BJP over the issue. 

In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the party alleged that the BJP had "looted" the Ram temple.

"The country has now witnessed what 'temple development' actually means – amely, the looting of the deity's donation boxes – at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. 

"Donations, gold, silver and jewellery at the Ram Mandir were brazenly looted. Kar Sevaks shed their blood and made the ultimate sacrifice for the Ram Mandir, yet it was the BJP that looted that very temple. The way Mahmud of Ghazni looted the Somnath temple, the BJP has looted the Ram temple," the article read.

The editorial also targeted Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that temple loot cases across the country involve people linked to the BJP. 

"Many major temples across the country have been looted over the last decade, and all these looters appear to be within the BJP, sitting right in Mr Amit Shah's lap."

"At least such thefts and robberies have not occurred at the Ambabai temple. The robbery of the donation box at the Ram Mandir represents a complete collapse of law and order," the editorial read.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that CCTV footage shows a "dacoity" involving more than ₹5 crore from temple offerings.

He held both the Uttar Pradesh and central governments responsible for the theft and accused the BJP of "stealing everything," ranging from EVMs and votes to donations offered by devotees.

Raut also announced plans for Uddhav Thackeray and party leaders to visit Ayodhya.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal also sharply criticised the government. 

He claimed reports suggest cash worth around ₹200 crore, along with jewellery and diamonds, has been stolen.

He asked why agencies such as the UP Police, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI have not registered cases and alleged that the government is protecting influential people.

Saurabh Bhardwaj from the AAP has accused Adityanath of showing sudden sympathy for "donation thieves."

BJP's response

The BJP and its allies have dismissed the allegations. 

Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh accused opposition leaders of politicising the issue. 

"Questions are being raised by those who have no attachment to Ram. He [Akhilesh Yadav] is looking for an issue for the elections. But as long as Yogi Adityanath is in power, every criminal will certainly be punished," he said.

Where the matter stands now

The controversy remains under investigation. The UP government's SIT is currently examining the allegations after the trust itself sought an inquiry.

At this stage, allegations of money laundering remain unproven. The trust has denied wrongdoing. The state government says the SIT will establish the facts.

The next major development is expected to be the SIT's findings.