Key facts
- Allegations of embezzlement of tens of millions of rupees in donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya have surfaced.
- The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the shrine, has denied any wrongdoing.
- The Uttar Pradesh government has formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the claims.
- Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a federal police investigation.
- The temple, inaugurated in January 2024, has become a significant pilgrimage center attracting millions of visitors.
The Ram temple in Ayodhya, India, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024, is facing allegations of embezzlement of donations. The shrine, built on a site with a contentious history involving a demolished 16th-century mosque, has become a major pilgrimage center attracting millions of visitors annually. Questions have been raised regarding the handling of cash, jewelry, gold, and silver offered by devotees. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, responsible for managing the temple, has denied any wrongdoing, stating that all activities are audited. The trust reported an annual income of approximately $35 million for the financial year 2024-25. The controversy began when Mahipal Singh, a former supervisor of the trust's accounts team, claimed he was replaced after raising concerns about the handling of offerings. These concerns were amplified by opposition politicians, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who called for an investigation. In response, the Uttar Pradesh government established a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the allegations. However, there is a growing demand for a federal police investigation, with several petitions filed in the Supreme Court seeking judicial oversight. A top court lawyer has also written to the Prime Minister and other officials, emphasizing the sacred nature of the offerings and the profound betrayal of faith if embezzlement has occurred.