The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has called for a full investigation into alleged pilferage of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, pressing for strict punishment against anyone found guilty while urging devotees to remain calm amid a politically sensitive row over the handling of temple funds.
RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said on Friday that the alleged theft from donation boxes at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple had deeply hurt the faith and sentiments of devotees. He described the matter as highly condemnable and said the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust must treat it as an exceptional case, address lapses in administration and ensure that public confidence in the temple’s management remains intact.
The statement marked the Sangh’s first formal intervention in a controversy that has placed the temple trust under intense scrutiny. The RSS also appealed to Hindu society to show “necessary patience and restraint” and said hostile forces could seek to use the episode to malign Hindu dharma and society. The wording reflected concern within the organisation that the issue could move beyond a financial inquiry and become a wider political and religious flashpoint.
The investigation has already led to the detention of eight people linked to alleged irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings. The probe is being led by a Special Investigation Team set up by the Uttar Pradesh government after the temple trust sought official intervention. Investigators are examining the flow of cash from donation boxes, counting rooms and bank deposits, with attention also turning to the role of officials and intermediaries involved in processing offerings.
The Ram Temple receives large volumes of cash and valuables from devotees. The donation system includes about 40 donation boxes and dozens of staff assigned to counting and recording offerings. Daily cash collections are estimated to run into several dozen lakh rupees, rising sharply during festivals, religious observances and high-footfall periods. The scale of the inflow has made the temple’s internal controls a matter of public concern, especially because contributions come from devotees across the country and abroad.
The SIT is expected to re-examine financial records covering the period since the trust began operating in 2020. The review is likely to cover cash receipts, deposit trails, tallying procedures, movement of donation boxes, CCTV records, vault access and the involvement of bank personnel in receiving and processing collections. Investigators are also looking at whether the alleged pilferage was the result of individual theft, collusion or deeper procedural weakness.
The controversy has revived questions over the governance structure of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The trust was created in 2020 following the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict that cleared the way for construction of the temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. While the temple project has had enormous public and political significance, the trust functions as an autonomous religious body and is not treated as an arm of government. The Central Information Commission has also held that it does not fall under the Right to Information framework.
That autonomy has become a point of debate as the donation row widens. Critics argue that institutions managing funds of such scale and sensitivity need stronger independent audits, transparent disclosure norms and clearer accountability procedures. Supporters of the trust maintain that internal corrective steps, criminal investigation and institutional oversight can address the lapses without inviting political interference in religious management.
Opposition leaders have seized on the issue, alleging that the episode exposes a lack of transparency in a project repeatedly presented as a symbol of civilisational pride. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh has announced plans for an accountability march from Ujjain to Ayodhya, saying the matter concerns the faith and money of devotees. Other opposition voices have demanded a broader probe into the trust’s finances and the public release of audit details.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has sought to avoid allowing the controversy to become a direct political attack on the temple project. The party’s wider ideological ecosystem has instead emphasised that the alleged wrongdoing must be punished without weakening public devotion to the shrine. The RSS statement followed that line, combining a demand for severe action with a warning against attempts to use the case to target Hindu institutions.
