Ram Temple Donation Fraud: Priyanka Gandhi Demands Transparent Probe

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has strongly condemned the alleged financial irregularities in the donations made to the Ayodhya Ram Temple, calling it the 'gravest sin' that has 'stunned the entire nation'. She emphasized that the alleged theft and misappropriation of offerings deeply hurt the faith of millions of devotees and questioned whether such extensive fraud could be carried out by mere lower-level employees without the complicity of 'big players'. Gandhi urged for a transparent investigation, stressing that those responsible, regardless of their position, must face strict punishment. The controversy surrounding the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust intensified after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13, 2026, following allegations of misappropriation of cash and valuables. The SIT's preliminary report, submitted on June 23, indicated large-scale irregularities and blatant violations of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the temple's donation management system. Key lapses included inadequate security during cash counting, lack of frisking for personnel, and the retention of CCTV footage for only 45 days instead of the mandated 180 days. Following the SIT's findings, an FIR was registered on June 25, 2026, at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station based on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The FIR named eight individuals, all of whom were subsequently arrested. The arrested individuals included former employees and contractual staff associated with the temple's donation collection and counting system. These accused, identified as Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Chandra Srivastava, and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, were remanded to judicial custody. Police sources indicated that many were involved in directly handling the cash during counting. Significant recoveries have been made during the investigation. As of late June and early July 2026, investigators recovered approximately ₹79.85 lakh in cash, along with some foreign currency, gold, and silver from the accused. Notably, Avinash Shukla, a primary school teacher involved in cash reconciliation, accounted for the largest individual recovery of over ₹20 lakh. The SIT's probe further widened with the recovery of a forged donation receipt book from one of the accused, suggesting a potential parallel fund collection racket operating under the guise of the Ram Temple. This development raised concerns that devotees might have been defrauded through counterfeit receipts, extending the scope of the investigation beyond internal theft to organized fraud. Amidst these developments, Champat Rai, the General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and trustee Anil Mishra submitted their resignations on June 27, 2026, citing moral responsibility. The Trust officially accepted their resignations on July 6, 2026, and appointed Krishna Mohan, a former Indian Forest Service officer and RSS Kshetra Sangh Chalak, as the interim general secretary. Krishna Mohan was also the one who lodged the initial police complaint leading to the FIR. The Trust also formed a three-member committee to select a permanent Chief Executive Officer and plans to review its banking arrangements, potentially exploring options beyond the State Bank of India due to alleged security lapses. The SIT is set to conduct a re-audit of the Trust's accounts for the past five years, scrutinizing construction-related expenditure, jewelry, and other gold and silver donations to ascertain the full extent of the irregularities. Political reactions have been sharp, with opposition parties demanding a thorough, transparent, and potentially Supreme Court-monitored investigation. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who initially raised allegations, called the donation theft a tarnishment of India's image. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured stringent action against anyone found guilty, appealing to political parties to refrain from baseless comments during the ongoing probe. This ongoing investigation highlights critical issues of trust, accountability, and financial transparency in major public and religious institutions. The recovery of substantial cash, the identification of procedural loopholes, and the resignations of senior trust members underscore the seriousness of the allegations and the need for robust oversight mechanisms. The widening scope of the probe, including the discovery of fake receipt books, suggests a deeper, more organized attempt to exploit public faith and donations meant for a significant national project. The nation awaits the full outcome of the transparent investigation demanded by political leaders and the public alike.

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