Ram Temple donation theft tests VHP’s demand to free temples from state control

Ram Temple donation theft tests VHP’s demand to free temples from state control

Allegations of large-scale embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya have triggered a political crisis in Uttar Pradesh and provided a challenging complication for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in its campaign to remove Hindu temples from government control.

The controversy escalated following claims by former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey that donations totaling between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore had been misappropriated. In response, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust requested a probe, leading the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 14.

Following the SIT's preliminary findings, an FIR was registered on June 25 at the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station based on a complaint by Trust member Krishanmohan. The complaint alleges a criminal conspiracy by temple staff responsible for counting and managing offerings. Hours after the FIR was filed, Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and member trustee Anil Mishra resigned, taking moral responsibility for the alleged theft.

Legal Action and Arrests

A special court in Ayodhya has remanded eight suspects to judicial custody until June 29. The arrested individuals include public servants and several State Bank of India employees: Avinash Shukla, Ankalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Rama Shankar, also known as Tinnu.

Prosecution Officer KC Verma stated that ₹79.85 lakh was recovered from the accused, with the exception of one person. The FIR was filed under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 306 for abetment of suicide, as well as sections 316(5), 317(4), and 317(5) concerning criminal breach of trust and misappropriation, and Sections 61 and 3(5) for criminal conspiracy and common intention.

Donor Concerns and Missing Assets

The scandal has prompted various donors to question the status of their contributions. The Vishwa Sindhi Seva Sangam (VSSS), a Mumbai-based group, is seeking information on 200 silver bricks, each weighing one kg, donated on January 26, 2021. Vishva Prakash Tekchandani of the VSSS stated the bricks were handed to Champat Rai in aluminum boxes, but no receipt was issued. Raju Manwani, international president of the VSSS, noted that while the silver was worth between ₹1.5 crore and ₹2 crore at the time of donation, its current value is between ₹6 crore and ₹7 crore.

Other reports of missing items include:

• Anurag Rastogi of the Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association alleged that 60 kg of silver collected from traders across India is untraceable, despite a receipt being provided.
• Anita Bhardwaj claimed she gave a silver Kagbhusundi statue to Champat Rai but received no receipt.
• Anil Vishwakarma reported donating a silver garland of nearly 3 kg and a 1 kg charan paduka without receiving a receipt.

The Trust previously stated during a March 16, 2025, briefing that it had received approximately 944 kg of silver from devotees until March 2025, which the Government of India’s Minting Corporation converted into bricks.

Political Fallout

Opposition leaders have characterized the event as a "maha dacoity" and "Lankakaand." Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed the "mask of the donation devotees" has fallen, suggesting the "empire of Lanka" built by BJP loyalists is facing retribution. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned if low-level employees could have switched off CCTV cameras to embezzle "thousands of crores" without collusion from powerful individuals, calling for a transparent inquiry rather than a "cover-up."

Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal described the SIT and FIR as "fake," alleging that "small pawns" are being booked while influential people are protected. He suggested the temple's management be handed to seers and saints rather than government officials.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended the government's "zero-tolerance" policy against those hurting public faith. Speaking in Deoria, he accused the opposition of politicizing the matter for gain after having opposed the temple's construction for years. He urged those with evidence to present it to the SIT, stating the government is acting on the team's recommendations.

VHP and Institutional Response

The VHP's leadership has expressed deep anguish, with International President Alok Kumar stating the episode dealt a "deep blow" to Hindu society. While Kumar expressed satisfaction with the swift formation of the SIT and the FIR, he argued against forming new committees. Instead, he advocated for strengthening the temple administration system by bringing in experienced personnel to ensure the security of the deity's properties.

The incident arrives as the VHP continues to push for the release of Hindu temples from state control—legislation that currently governs temple management in Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

The investigation continues as the SIT pursues its probe into the misappropriated funds and assets.