Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has accused the Samajwadi Party of seizing control of temples and diverting devotees’ offerings towards the construction of mosque walls, intensifying the political battle over the alleged theft of donations from Ayodhya’s Ram Temple.
Addressing a gathering in Ayodhya on Saturday, Adityanath claimed the opposition party had misused money donated at religious institutions while it governed Uttar Pradesh. He did not present documentary evidence for the allegation, which the Samajwadi Party had not formally answered by Sunday morning.
The chief minister’s attack came as investigators examined serious failures in the system used to collect, count and secure offerings at the Ram Temple. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the alleged removal of cash and valuables from donations made by devotees.
A Special Investigation Team has identified repeated thefts during a period of about six weeks, aided by inadequate frisking, weak supervision and gaps in closed-circuit television coverage. Investigators found that some personnel involved in counting donations were able to exploit blind spots and procedural weaknesses inside the highly sensitive complex.
Ramashankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav, has emerged as a central figure in the inquiry. Investigators found that he allegedly controlled keys to donation boxes without documented authorisation, giving him access that should ordinarily have required stronger checks and multiple levels of approval.
Police have recovered nearly ₹8 million in cash, jewellery and other assets from the accused. A car and items believed to have been purchased using misappropriated money have also been seized. About 50 bank accounts linked to the suspects and their relatives are being examined to trace transactions and determine whether the alleged operation involved additional beneficiaries.
The amount recovered represents only a fraction of the money handled by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The temple had received donations totalling about ₹5.82 billion by March 31, underlining the scale of the financial controls required at one of the country’s most prominent religious institutions.
The controversy has prompted an administrative overhaul within the trust. General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra have stepped down, while an interim arrangement has been introduced and a committee formed to select a new chief executive officer.
The trust has also tightened procedures governing the counting of offerings. Revised measures include QR-enabled identity cards, stricter entry controls, improved surveillance and digital tracking of employees assigned to donation management. More than half of the personnel involved in counting donations have reportedly left their duties following the changes and scrutiny.
Adityanath has argued that the alleged actions of a small group should not be used to malign the entire trust or Ayodhya. He said investigators had found evidence against eight people among roughly 150 individuals associated with the donation-counting process and insisted that action was being taken against those responsible.
The Samajwadi Party has questioned whether the state-appointed investigation can uncover the full extent of the wrongdoing. Party president Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that influential people are being protected while comparatively junior figures face prosecution.
Yadav has demanded an investigation by a central agency and described the alleged theft as a grave betrayal of devotees. He has also suggested that tensions between the BJP’s leadership in Delhi and Lucknow could affect the transparency of the inquiry.
The chief minister has responded by widening his criticism beyond the donation case. He accused the Samajwadi Party and Congress of questioning the existence of Lord Ram, obstructing Ayodhya’s development and failing to support causes linked to Hindu religious sites.
Adityanath also alleged that namaz had been permitted at Ayodhya’s Hanumangarhi temple during a Samajwadi Party administration and demanded an apology. The opposition has previously accused the BJP of using religious disputes to divert attention from questions about accountability, security failures and the governance of the Ram Temple trust.
The confrontation carries added political weight as parties prepare for future electoral contests in Uttar Pradesh. The Ram Temple movement has been closely associated with the BJP’s expansion, making allegations involving devotees’ donations particularly sensitive for the ruling party.
