Ram Mandir Donation Fraud Sparks Political Row and Resignations
An alleged financial fraud involving Ram Mandir donations has ignited intense political scrutiny following the arrest of eight individuals in Ayodhya and the high-profile resignation of two top temple trust officials amid demands for a federal investigation.
Key Highlights
- Eight accused individuals have been remanded to judicial custody by an Ayodhya court.
- Law enforcement personnel successfully retrieved βΉ79,85,493 during the ongoing investigation.
- Two prominent members of the temple trust stepped down, accepting moral accountability.
- Opposition leaders are demanding an immediate, high-level federal investigation into the matter.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday questioned the handling of the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case, claiming that despite signs of large-scale financial irregularities, action was delayed.
Congress leader also said he had personally donated Rs 1.11 lakh to the temple trust through a cheque.
“I had made the payment via cheque. In this case, it became blatantly obvious that large-scale looting had taken place, yet no FIR was filed initially. An FIR has only been registered recently. The police should have sought remand,” former MP CM said.
Referring to the trust overseeing the temple, he alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appointed its representatives but had not responded to the issue. Former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam additionally urged a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, stating that global followers of Sanatan Dharma feel cheated and require a high-level agency to restore public trust.
Meanwhile, a court in Ayodhya on Friday sent eight accused to judicial custody till June 29 in the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case.
The accused were produced before the local court after being arrested.
KC Verma, Prosecution Officer at the Ayodhya Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court, told reporters that all eight accused had been remanded to judicial custody till Monday and would be produced before the court again on June 29.
“In total, Rs 79,85,493 was recovered from them, except for one accused, Subhash. Nothing was recovered from him, though he was involved in the conspiracy. Different amounts were recovered from others,” he said.
Verma said eight accused have been arrested– Avinash Shukla, Ankalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Rama Shankar (alias Tinnu).
Also, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and member trustee Anil Mishra resigned on Friday, taking moral responsibility for the alleged embezzlement of Ram Mandir donations.
Future Outlook
The escalating controversy is expected to intensify legislative oversight regarding religious trusts in India. Legal experts anticipate that upcoming court hearings scheduled for late June 2026 will dictate whether federal agencies step in, forcing tighter financial compliance and independent audits to safeguard public donations.
FAQs
Who are the main individuals arrested in the Ram Mandir donation case?
The authorities have arrested eight individuals, identified as Avinash Shukla, Ankalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Rama Shankar.
How much money has been recovered by the police so far?
Law enforcement officials have successfully recovered a total of Rs 79,85,493 from the possession of the accused individuals involved in the conspiracy.
Which officials resigned from the temple trust?
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and member trustee Anil Mishra resigned from their positions, accepting moral responsibility for the financial irregularities.
What are political leaders demanding regarding the investigation?
Opposition leaders and prominent public figures are questioning the initial delays in filing the FIR and are calling for a formal inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
