Ram Mandir, Badrinath, Now Baglamukhi: Donation Theft Row Rocks MP's Siddhpeeth, Probe Ordered

Last Updated:July 08, 2026, 12:05 IST

As part of the probe, the committee will verify whether any unregistered or non-governmental body was operating a parallel donation collection system inside the temple.

Donation Theft Row: Amid controversies over alleged misappropriation of devotees’ donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya and the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand, similar allegations have now surfaced at the Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Agar Malwa district, prompting the administration to order an inquiry.

Agar Malwa Collector Preeti Yadav has constituted a three-member committee to investigate allegations of financial irregularities in the collection of cash, gold and silver offerings at the temple.

According to the July 7 order, the committee will examine claims that a non-governmental committee was separately collecting donations through private bank accounts, independent of the government-appointed temple management committee.

The inquiry panel will be headed by District Panchayat Chief Executive Officer B.S. Solanki, with District Treasury Officer Manish Solanki and Nalkheda Municipal Council Chief Municipal Officer Mini Agrawal as members. The committee has been directed to submit its report within seven days.

“According to the complaints and allegations received regarding the Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Nalkheda, a non-governmental committee is alleged to have been separately collecting donations from devotees in the form of cash and gold and silver ornaments within the temple premises, independent of the government-appointed temple management committee. Serious allegations have also been made regarding the use of private bank accounts and financial irregularities. In view of the need for a fair and comprehensive inquiry into the matter, a three-member joint inquiry committee has been constituted," the order read.

As part of the probe, the committee will verify whether any unregistered or non-governmental body was operating a parallel donation collection system inside the temple premises. It will also examine receipt books, bank accounts and financial records to determine the amount of cash, gold and silver collected and scrutinise how the funds were handled.

The panel has further been asked to identify whether any government official, temple management functionary or any other individual was involved in the alleged irregularities. It will inspect the temple premises, gather evidence, record statements of those concerned and submit its findings to the district administration within the stipulated time.

Donation Theft Row In Ram Mandir, Badrinath

The Uttarakhand government has ordered a high-level inquiry into alleged irregularities in donations and offerings at the revered Badrinath Temple, even as the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) suspended one of its employees and lodged an FIR in connection with the case.

Acting on the directions of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government constituted a three-member committee to investigate the allegations and recommend measures to improve transparency and accountability in the temple’s donation management system.

In the Ram Mandir case, eight people have been arrested for allegedly stealing donations during the counting process. Investigators have claimed that nearly Rs 80 lakh has been recovered during the probe, while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues to examine how the accused allegedly bypassed safeguards in one of the country’s most closely watched religious trusts.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre...Read More

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