Uddhav Thackeray Slams BJP Over Alleged Ram Temple Donation Embezzlement

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of 'betraying Hindus' and alleging a 'theft' or 'embezzlement' of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. Thackeray's strong remarks, made at a rally in Yavatmal-Washim, came amidst an ongoing investigation into financial irregularities concerning temple donations. He vowed that Shiv Sena (UBT) would lead protests for a 'BJP-mukt Ram,' rejecting what he termed the BJP's 'Hindutva of looting temples.' The core of Thackeray's specific allegations centered on claims that silver bricks donated by the undivided Shiv Sena were stolen and that a Rs 1 crore cash donation made by his party had not been accounted for. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut echoed these concerns, stating that a 4-kg silver brick and the Rs 1 crore cash donation were unaccounted for, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had not issued any receipt or communication regarding them. These accusations gained traction following broader allegations of misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple, which surfaced on June 7, 2026. In response, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. An FIR was subsequently registered on June 25, leading to the arrest of eight individuals involved in the process of counting cash and valuables received as donations at the temple. Investigators have reportedly recovered Rs 79.85 lakh and the arrested individuals were remanded to judicial custody. However, the SIT's preliminary findings have contradicted the claims of 'stolen' silver bricks. According to multiple reports, the SIT found no evidence to support claims that 200 kg of silver bricks or other silver donations had gone missing. Instead, the probe revealed that most donated silver items were either melted or sent for minting and were meticulously accounted for in the Trust's official records. The SIT confirmed that records show approximately 38 kg of silver was received between July 21-28, 2020, and an additional 25.576 kg of silver bricks on July 29, 2020. These items were later melted into solid bullion and preserved in a bank locker, with entries recorded in the Trust's inventory sent to the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India (SPMCIL). The SIT stated that the silver remained in the Trust's custody before being processed according to established procedures. Concerns about missing silver were also raised by other individuals, including Anurag Rastogi, North India head of the Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), and Raju Mandwani, president of the Vishwa Sindhi Seva Samaj. Rastogi had questioned the whereabouts of 60 kg of silver bars and a 3 kg silver lamp he claimed to have donated, while Mandwani alleged 200 kg of silver bricks donated in 2021 did not receive a receipt. The SIT's investigation, however, found that the Trust's records contained complete entries for these donations and confirmed their processing. In response to the controversy and mounting scrutiny, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has taken steps to address public concerns. On July 7, 2026, the Trust publicly displayed its extensive collection of gold and silver valuables, asserting that all 2,926 valuable articles donated by devotees were 'safe' and their records meticulously maintained. Swami Govind Dev Giri, the Trust's treasurer, stated they hold over 30 kg of gold-like items and 1,518 kg of silver-like items. Furthermore, the Trust accepted the resignations of its General Secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra, who took moral responsibility for the incident, and reiterated its commitment to ensuring a fair investigation. The political dimension of the row intensified with other opposition leaders joining the fray. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant criticized the judiciary and investigative agencies, alleging that the "judicial system stands enslaved" and the Supreme Court is not adequately addressing the matter. He also expressed skepticism about the impartiality of SITs. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also accused the BJP and RSS of a "Rs 20,000 crore loot" in the name of Ram Temple donations, linking it to alleged undermining of democratic institutions and electoral manipulation. Uddhav Thackeray further alleged that the stolen temple funds were being used for political purposes, specifically to engineer defections of opposition legislators, coining the term 'Operation Ram Mandir' for such alleged activities. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) acknowledged the donation theft as "unfortunate" and called for strict action against those found guilty. RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale urged the Trust to strengthen its financial management and administrative systems to maintain devotees' faith, while also cautioning against "anti-Hindu" and "anti-national" forces attempting to exploit the controversy. The controversy underscores the sensitive nature of donations to religious institutions in India and the political implications when such matters become subjects of public dispute, particularly involving a structure as significant as the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

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