Congress has intensified its demand for an independent probe into alleged theft and mismanagement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, turning a sensitive question of religious accountability into a wider political confrontation over transparency, faith and control of temple institutions.
The party has argued that an inquiry by agencies under the Uttar Pradesh government cannot command public confidence because the temple project was closely associated with the ruling BJP’s political campaign and national messaging. Congress leaders have sought scrutiny of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the systems used to collect and count offerings, and the role of those responsible for cash, jewellery and other valuables donated by devotees.
The controversy gathered pace after allegations surfaced that offerings made at the temple had either gone missing or were not properly recorded. The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team on June 13 after the temple trust sought an inquiry into claims of misappropriation. The team began its work from the cash-counting centre inside the temple complex, examined CCTV material, reviewed donation boxes and questioned employees and officials linked to the collection process.
The SIT has questioned several people associated with the temple administration, including trust general secretary Champat Rai, temple administrator Gopal Rao and trust member Anil Mishra. Investigators have also examined the procedures followed for opening donation boxes, counting cash, recording ornaments and depositing money. The preliminary findings submitted to the state government are understood to have recommended tighter professional controls, including a chief executive officer, weekly audits and daily records of offerings.
The temple receives a large daily flow of devotees, making the handling of cash and valuables a complex administrative exercise. Estimates from people involved in the process place daily cash donations in the range of ₹8 lakh to ₹13 lakh, with higher inflows on crowded days reportedly reaching ₹50 lakh to ₹60 lakh. Around one lakh devotees visit the temple on busy days, and cash counting is carried out in shifts by designated staff.
The trust has denied wrongdoing and maintained that its accounts are subject to periodic internal audits involving banking representatives and trust officials. Champat Rai has said no major discrepancy had been detected in the regular audit process. Trust functionaries have argued that allegations should not be treated as established facts before the investigation is complete.
Congress has rejected that defence, saying the scale of the project and the emotional appeal used during the fundraising campaign require a probe insulated from political influence. Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai has accused the BJP and the wider Sangh network of creating an atmosphere of faith and then failing to protect devotees’ contributions. The party has also questioned why responsibility appears to be falling on lower-level personnel when senior managers and trustees oversaw the system.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has asked whether those close to the ruling establishment had any role in the matter and called for a credible investigation. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has also attacked the BJP over the issue, alleging that donations made in the name of Lord Ram were being mishandled. Congress units in several states have staged protests and filed complaints demanding criminal accountability.
Other opposition parties have joined the attack. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has described any theft from temple donations as a grave moral offence and sought judicial attention to the allegations. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh has claimed to possess documents relating to alleged donation theft and land irregularities and is expected to place material before investigators. Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Sudhakar Singh has sent a legal notice to the trust seeking details on donations received and funds used.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged political leaders to submit evidence to the SIT instead of making allegations that could damage Ayodhya’s image or hurt devotees. He has said the truth would emerge through the probe and that the guilty would not be spared. His remarks were aimed at containing political escalation while preserving the government’s position that the inquiry is already underway.
The dispute has also revived questions about the governance model of large religious trusts that receive mass public donations. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was set up in February 2020 following the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict in the Ayodhya title dispute. It was tasked with construction and management of the temple, which was consecrated on January 22, 2024, after a nationwide fundraising campaign involving volunteers and affiliated organisations.
