Ayodhya Priest Slams Maurya Over Ram Mandir Donation Theft Remarks

A significant controversy has erupted in Ayodhya following remarks by former Uttar Pradesh minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya concerning an alleged donation theft at the Ram Mandir. Maurya questioned the divine protection of Lord Ram, stating that if Lord Ram could not prevent the theft of donations, silver, and gold from his own temple, how could he protect his devotees? These statements sparked a strong backlash from prominent religious figures. Mahant Raju Das, a revered priest from Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi temple, vehemently condemned Swami Prasad Maurya's comments. He challenged Maurya to make similar remarks about other religions if he truly possessed 'guts,' accusing the former minister of politicizing a sensitive religious issue and hurting Hindu sentiments. Das called for strict action against Maurya, emphasizing that Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma were being unfairly targeted. Other saints and seers, including Mahant Bhakt Charan Das Maharaj and Mahant Deveshacharya Ji Maharaj, also expressed their displeasure, with some demanding legal action against Maurya under the National Security Act (NSA) for insulting Hindu deities and scriptures. The controversy originated from allegations of financial irregularities at the Ram Mandir. On June 7, Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan 'Pawan' Pandey initially claimed that donations worth between ₹5 crore and ₹7.5 crore had been siphoned off from the temple's offerings. More recently, a petitioner in the Ram Mandir case alleged a scam involving nearly ₹200 crore, bringing renewed scrutiny to fund management and accountability. In response to these allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government, at the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13 to investigate the matter thoroughly. The investigation has been actively progressing, leading to the arrest of eight individuals associated with the temple management. These arrested individuals include temple staff members, security personnel, and those involved in the cash counting process. Police searches have reportedly led to the recovery of approximately ₹80 lakh in cash from the residences of the accused. Specific recoveries mentioned in reports include ₹16.82 lakh from Anukalp Mishra, ₹14.25 lakh from Lavkush Mishra, over ₹20 lakh (plus foreign currency and gold jewelry) from Avinash Shukla, and around ₹18 lakh from Karunesh Pandey. CCTV footage from the temple's counting room reportedly played a role in identifying some suspects. Further developments in the case include the resignations of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and senior trust member Anil Mishra on June 27, 2026, amid increasing scrutiny over the handling of donations and oversight mechanisms. However, Champat Rai later indicated he had himself written to demand an SIT probe into the matter, stating he felt subjected to a media trial without being heard. Sources close to the investigation have indicated that bank officials questioned by the SIT estimate that before the theft came to light, donations averaged ₹16-18 lakh daily, which rose to ₹24-26 lakh daily after the case surfaced, suggesting a daily siphoning of ₹6-8 lakh. The police are actively tracing the money trail, examining five years of banking records from seven banks linked to the accused and the Trust. The seriousness of the allegations prompted the Supreme Court to intervene on July 13, 2026, seeking a status report from the Uttar Pradesh government's SIT regarding the alleged embezzlement of donations. The Court also sought a response from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Petitions filed sought a forensic audit and a review by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of the Trust's accounts, citing alleged financial irregularities and insufficient oversight. The matter is scheduled for further consideration, with the Court also requesting details on the SIT's composition. Swami Prasad Maurya has a history of controversial statements regarding Hindu religious figures and texts. In November 2023, he drew criticism for questioning Goddess Lakshmi having four hands, which prompted the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi head priest, Acharya Satyendra Das, to state that Maurya would face divine punishment. Earlier, in January 2023, Maurya caused a stir by claiming certain verses of the Ramcharitamanas were 'casteist and derogatory' and should be removed, leading to strong reactions from seers and right-wing groups. These repeated controversial remarks contribute to the heightened political and religious tensions surrounding the current donation theft case.

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