Ram temple donation theft allegations trigger police probe in Ayodhya

Police in Ayodhya filed an FIR and arrested eight people on June 25, 2026, after a petition from Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust member Krishna Mohan triggered a probe into alleged theft and embezzlement of Ram temple donations.

The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team on June 13, 2026, to examine the allegations. The panel was headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant and included Lucknow Range IG Kiran S. and Finance Department Special Secretary Neelratan Kumar. The team was directed to submit a preliminary report within seven days and a final report within 15 days.

The dispute widened after former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey alleged that between 7 crore and 7.5 crore had been stolen or embezzled. Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh said the amount could exceed 200 crore. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said the allegations should not be treated as facts until the investigation is complete.

Investigators have also broadened the inquiry beyond cash to look at jewellery and other valuables, including whether stolen gold and silver ornaments were melted into bullion to obscure their origin. Police have sought five years of banking records from seven banks tied to the eight arrested men and the trust.

General secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned, taking moral responsibility, while temple construction committee chair Nripendra Mishra said there would be no laxity in the investigation. The trust has also tightened donation-counting and staff-frisking procedures, including changing-room checks for workers who handle offerings.