Ayodhya’s Ram temple donation controversy widened on Monday after Mahant Dharmadas Baba condemned the alleged financial irregularities as a betrayal of faith and demanded the severest possible action against those found responsible.
Dharmadas Baba, a former litigant for Ram Lalla and Mahant of Hanumangarhi Temple, said the alleged wrongdoing was “reprehensible” and argued that “no standard of punishment” would be sufficient if devotees’ offerings had been mishandled. His remarks added religious weight to a dispute that has already drawn political attacks, legal petitions and a government-ordered investigation.
The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team to examine allegations concerning donations and financial management at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the temple. The probe was ordered after the trust itself sought an inquiry, with officials saying the allegations must be tested through a formal process rather than left to political claims and speculation.
Investigators are examining the handling of cash offerings, the counting process, donation boxes, security arrangements and the role of personnel associated with temple operations. The inquiry is also looking at whether there were lapses in CCTV monitoring, record-keeping and procurement linked to donation management. Officials connected with temple administration have been asked to remain available in Ayodhya as the probe moves through its preliminary stage.
The controversy gained momentum after claims surfaced that large sums offered by devotees may have been misappropriated. Opposition leaders have referred to alleged irregularities running into crores of rupees, though investigators have not publicly confirmed a final figure. A letter petition has also reached the Supreme Court seeking scrutiny of the allegations, intensifying pressure for transparency in a matter tied closely to public faith.
The trust has maintained that its records and audit processes are being examined and that the government probe was sought to remove doubt. People close to the temple administration have argued that the scale of donations, the volume of visitors and the complexity of managing daily offerings require a careful audit before any conclusion is drawn. The inquiry is expected to assess whether the alleged discrepancies point to theft, procedural weakness, negligence or administrative gaps.
Dharmadas Baba’s intervention is significant because of his long association with the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute and his standing among Ayodhya’s religious institutions. By backing the investigation while expressing outrage over the allegations, he sought to frame the matter as a question of accountability rather than partisan rivalry. His comments reflected anger among sections of the seer community that donations made in devotion should be protected from even the suspicion of misuse.
The issue has also entered the political arena. The Congress has demanded a time-bound inquiry under the supervision of a sitting High Court judge, saying a police-led probe may not command public confidence in a case of such sensitivity. Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal has questioned why central agencies such as the CBI and Enforcement Directorate have not acted, alleging that powerful names could be involved. Shiv Sena leaders have used the row to target the BJP, accusing it of failing to protect temple funds.
The BJP and the state government have so far leaned on the SIT process, arguing that allegations should not be allowed to become a campaign of insinuation before evidence is assessed. The formation of the probe team on the trust’s request is being cited by government functionaries as proof that there is no attempt to shield anyone. The political challenge, however, lies in restoring confidence among devotees who contributed money, gold, silver and other offerings to the temple project.
The Ram temple was opened for public worship after the consecration ceremony in January 2024, drawing millions of pilgrims to Ayodhya and turning the city into one of the country’s busiest religious destinations. The temple’s donations are therefore not merely a financial matter; they carry symbolic importance for supporters who viewed the project as the culmination of a decades-long movement.
