Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Fraud: FIR Registered Following SIT Report Discover the latest updates on the Ayodhya Ram Te…
Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Fraud: FIR Registered Following SIT Report Discover the latest updates on the Ayodhya Ram Temple financial probe as authorities file a formal case. Ram Temple donation case ayodhya-ram-temple-donation-case Ayodhya, Ram Temple donation, financial irregularities, Champat Rai, SIT probe, Uttar Pradesh police, BNS politics
The Uttar Pradesh police have registered a First Information Report in Ayodhya following allegations of financial embezzlement involving donations at the Ram temple. The legal action succeeds a preliminary report submitted to the state government by a Special Investigation Team tasked with probing the misappropriation of temple funds.
Key Highlights
- Authorities registered the case following a preliminary report by a three-member Special Investigation Team on June 23, 2026.
- The FIR invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, naming eight specific individuals in the donation theft.
- Senior opposition leaders are demanding accountability for top temple trust officials, including General Secretary Champat Rai.
- The state government formed the investigative panel on June 13, 2026, following initial allegations of a Rs 7 crore to Rs 7.5 crore deficit.
The FIR comes amid an ongoing probe into the matter by the SIT, which submitted a preliminary report of its findings to the UP government two days ago.
This executive action developed after explicit endorsements from a Special Investigation Team that delivered its initial findings to the Uttar Pradesh administration.
The criminal case encompasses severe infractions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, specifying counts of larceny and criminal breach of trust.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is maintaining a very serious posture regarding the financial discrepancy, guaranteeing stringent consequences for any convicted perpetrators.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad alongside Aam Aadmi Party officials previously pressed for a formal police complaint regarding the disputed financial transactions.
Law enforcement registered a formal case in Ayodhya on June 25, 2026, concerning the alleged diversion of charitable funds at the Ram temple, according to state authorities.
The FIR comes amid an ongoing probe into the matter by a Special Investigation Team, which submitted a preliminary report of its findings to the Uttar Pradesh government two days ago.
A senior police representative verified to PTI on Thursday that the criminal case has been officially recorded.
SIT Recommendations And Government Action
An administrative official informed PTI that investigators outlined strong, strict guidance, noting that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath remains very serious about the development.
The official clarified that any individuals validated as culpable will face unyielding legal retribution while outlining the procedural sequence that prompted the FIR.
The regional administration formed the inquiry panel on June 13, 2026, acting on a formal petition from the temple trust after initial disclosures of financial divergence.
The investigative committee comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.
Legal Provisions And Public Demand
The police filed the formal complaint based on a deposition by Krishna Mohan, an active trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
According to police documentation, the case references Section 306 for theft by a clerk or servant, Section 316 for criminal breach of trust, Section 317 for receiving stolen property, and Section 61 for criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Administrative sources noted that the formal logging of the case directly answers the directives contained within the preliminary investigative brief.
The legal development materialized hours after the Vishva Hindu Parishad backed the intensifying public demands for accountability, while senior Aam Aadmi Party figures, including Arvind Kejriwal, arrived in Ayodhya on Thursday evening to demand immediate prosecutions.
The unfolding investigation has widened to evaluate the roles of eight named accused individuals, including Ramashankar Yadav, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Lavkush Mishra, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Shrivastava, and Manish Yadav, following initial public assertions by former legislator Pawan Pandey that between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore had been diverted.
History of the Trust Leadership
The political row has intensified scrutiny on the administrative architects of the temple project, most notably Champat Rai. Born in 1946 in Bijnor, Rai transitioned from a lifelong association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh into a prominent leader within the Vishva Hindu Parishad, eventually becoming the General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, are actively questioning why the current investigation focuses primarily on lower-level employees rather than senior trust executives such as Rai, Chairman Nripendra Mishra, and member Anil Mishra. This criticism escalated following disclosures that the Prime Minister’s Office had previously requested specific financial details from the trust, which the management declined to provide while citing the active state-level inquiry.
FAQs
What triggered the FIR in the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation case?
The formal case was filed following a preliminary report by a Special Investigation Team that highlighted financial misappropriation. This followed public allegations that between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore in temple donations had been embezzled.
Who is investigating the financial irregularities at the Ram Temple?
A three-member Special Investigation Team is leading the inquiry. The panel includes Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.
Which legal charges have been filed in the temple donation case?
The Ayodhya police registered the case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The specific charges include Section 306 for theft by a servant, Section 316 for criminal breach of trust, Section 317 for possessing stolen property, and Section 61 for criminal conspiracy.
Who are the main individuals named in the donation theft FIR?
The police complaint names eight distinct individuals caught on security footage or accused of abetting the theft. The named individuals include Ramashankar Yadav, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Lavkush Mishra, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Shrivastava, and Manish Yadav.
