Ram Temple Donation Theft: Prevailing Confusion, Uncertainty Must End, Says RSS

Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 15:38 IST

It is essential to ensure that anyone found guilty during the investigation is brought to justice and awarded the strictest punishment in accordance with the law, says the RSS

Amid the controversy surrounding the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has said that the prevailing confusion and uncertainty must come to an end.

The alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple came to light on June 7. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on June 25 on the basis of a preliminary report submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government. Eight persons associated with the temple’s donation-counting process have been arrested so far.

“The RSS, along with the entire Hindu society, naturally expects the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to treat this highly condemnable incident as an exceptional matter and take effective measures to address all shortcomings in the temple’s administration and management. Such steps are necessary to ensure that the faith and devotion of millions of Lord Ram’s devotees in the Ayodhya temple remain unwavering and unbroken. The prevailing confusion and uncertainty must come to an end," it said.

Award strictest punishment to the guilty: RSS

“The unfortunate incident of theft of the money deposited in the donation boxes at the Shri Ramlala Temple in Ayodhya has deeply hurt the sentiments and faith of the entire society and millions of Lord Ram’s devotees. We are all deeply saddened and distressed by this incident," said the RSS.

“At the earnest request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has constituted a SIT and, based on its recommendations, has initiated legal proceedings. It is essential to ensure that anyone found guilty during the investigation is brought to justice and awarded the strictest punishment in accordance with the law," said the RSS.

“In this regard, we expect that all necessary actions will be taken by the temple management and the Special Investigation Team constituted by the government. We are confident that through sound financial management, efficient administration, transparent and accountable systems, and an environment imbued with purity, sanctity, and deep religious values, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will continue to uphold and strengthen the faith and trust of Hindu society," said the organisation.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also appealed to the entire Hindu society to demonstrate the necessary patience and restraint during this difficult time. It urges everyone to ensure that attempts by anti-Hindu and anti-national forces to exploit this unfortunate incident in order to defame Hinduism and Hindu society are thwarted.

The investigation

The SIT probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple will conduct a re-audit of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s accounts for the past five years after the preliminary probe indicated large-scale irregularities, sources said on Friday.

The re-audit will cover construction-related expenditure as well as jewellery and other gold and silver items received as donations, the sources said. The SIT will carry out a detailed scrutiny of the Trust’s financial records for the entire five-year period, the sources said.

In another development, the Ayodhya Police questioned key accused Avinash Shukla after taking him into custody. The SIT has so far questioned Trust general secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, who has been associated with the temple’s construction and management.

According to police sources, cash recoveries in the case include Rs 20.39 lakh from Shukla, Rs 18.07 lakh from Karunesh Pandey, Rs 16.82 lakh from Anukalp Mishra, Rs 14.25 lakh from Lavkush Mishra, Rs 7.32 lakh from Ramashankar Mishra and Rs 1 lakh from Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu. Police have also recovered around 11 grams of gold, about 375 grams of silver and USD 1,121 during the investigation. Investigators also seized a donation box labelled “Ramrajya Kosh", bearing a Paytm QR code, from a yoga centre in Ayodhya where Shukla had allegedly been staying for nearly a decade, the sources said.

With agency inputs

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