The alleged Ram Temple donation controversy in Ayodhya has emerged as one of the most closely watched religious and political issues in India in recent weeks. The matter centers on claims that cash, jewelry, and other offerings donated by devotees to the Ram Temple may have been misappropriated.
The allegations prompted the Uttar Pradesh government to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has now submitted a preliminary report and is expected to deliver its final findings within the next few weeks.
It is important to note that the allegations remain under investigation, and no wrongdoing has been officially established at the time of writing.
How did the controversy begin?
The issue first gained public attention on June 7, 2026, when former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey alleged that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore in donations made to the Ram Temple had either been stolen or embezzled.
The allegations quickly sparked political debate, with opposition leaders demanding accountability and transparency regarding the management of temple donations.
Soon after, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav publicly raised concerns and questioned the government’s response to the allegations.
What happened after the allegations surfaced?
As the controversy intensified, BJP leader Dr. Rajneesh Singh reportedly wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 9 seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry.
The following day, reports said the Prime Minister’s Office sought information regarding the allegations from the temple trust.
On June 13, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved the formation of a three-member SIT after a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The objective of the investigation is to determine whether any financial irregularities occurred in the handling of temple donations.
Who is conducting the investigation?
The SIT consists of:
- Vijay Vishwas Pant, Lucknow Commissioner
- Kiran Shivkumar, Inspector General of Police, Lucknow Range
- Neelratan Kumar, Special Secretary (Finance)
The team submitted its preliminary findings to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad and continues to investigate the matter.
What is the SIT examining?
Investigators are reportedly reviewing multiple aspects of the temple’s donation management system.
Areas under scrutiny
- Donation records and accounting documents
- Cash collection and counting procedures
- Financial management practices
- Security arrangements for donated valuables
- CCTV footage from donation-counting areas
- Handling of gold, silver, and jewelry offerings
Reports suggest that senior trust officials, including Champat Rai and Gopal Rao, have been questioned as part of the inquiry.
Investigators have also reviewed storage facilities where valuable offerings are kept.
How much money is allegedly involved?
The exact amount remains disputed.
Initial allegations
The first claims suggested that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore may have been misappropriated.
Later allegations
Some opposition leaders later claimed that irregularities could involve as much as ₹200 crore.
However, these figures have not been independently verified and remain part of the ongoing investigation.
What do the temple’s financial records show?
According to publicly cited financial disclosures:
- The trust reportedly received ₹82.78 crore in donations between April 2025 and February 2026.
- Interest earnings totaled ₹138.03 crore.
- Combined income during the period reportedly reached ₹220.81 crore.
Experts have said that a detailed examination of donation records, accounting systems, and cash-handling procedures will be necessary before any conclusions can be drawn.
What is the silver brick controversy?
The debate widened after businessman Raju V. Manwani claimed that he donated 200 silver bricks to the Ram Temple on behalf of the Sindhi community in 2021.
According to his statement, he did not receive a receipt at the time of donation and has now sought clarification regarding how the silver was utilized.
As of publication, there has been no publicly reported response from the temple trust regarding this specific claim.
What are the different sides saying?
Uttar Pradesh government
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has stated that anyone found guilty will face action.
He has also assured devotees that the SIT investigation will be fair and impartial.
BJP
BJP leaders have urged caution and asked the public not to reach conclusions before the investigation is completed.
Party representatives have accused opposition groups of politicizing the issue and attempting to damage the image of the Ram Temple movement.
Opposition parties
Opposition leaders have demanded greater transparency and accountability.
Some have called for an independent investigation, including a CBI-led inquiry or judicial oversight.
Ram Temple Trust
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has denied any wrongdoing.
Trust General Secretary Champat Rai has stated that internal audits did not uncover evidence supporting allegations of large-scale embezzlement.
According to the trust, it requested an impartial investigation to establish facts and address misinformation.
VHP
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has defended the temple trust while supporting due process.
Some VHP leaders have also suggested that scrutiny should extend to other organizations that collected funds in the name of the Ram Mandir movement over the years.
What could be the political impact?
The controversy comes less than a year before campaigning is expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Political analysts believe the issue could become a major talking point between the BJP and opposition parties.
While the temple trust operates independently of the government, opposition leaders are already attempting to frame the controversy as a broader governance and accountability issue.
The eventual findings of the SIT could influence both public perception and political narratives in the run-up to the elections.
What happens next?
The SIT is expected to submit its final report within 10 to 15 days.
Separately, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has reportedly been filed in the Supreme Court seeking preservation of financial records, digital evidence, and CCTV footage, along with a demand for an independent probe.
The final report is expected to clarify whether any irregularities occurred and whether criminal proceedings are warranted.
TL;DR
- Allegations surfaced in June 2026 claiming Ram Temple donations were misappropriated.
- Initial claims suggested losses between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore.
- Some opposition leaders later alleged irregularities involving up to ₹200 crore.
- The Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member SIT on June 13.
- The SIT has submitted a preliminary report and is expected to submit a final report within 10 to 15 days.
- The Ram Temple Trust has denied any wrongdoing and says it is fully cooperating with investigators.
- No allegations have been proven so far.
