Recovery of cash, jewellery and other valuables from accused in the Ayodhya donation theft case fuels demands for greater transparency in temple trusts across India
Our Bureau
Ayodhya / New Delhi
The investigation into the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has gathered momentum, with police recovering cash, gold jewellery, a mobile phone and a car during custodial interrogation of three accused, even as the controversy triggered fresh political attacks and renewed scrutiny of temple fund management.
Police said recoveries were made after raids conducted on the basis of information allegedly provided by the accused — Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra and Karunesh Pandey — who are currently in police remand. Officials said the investigation has yielded several crucial leads.
According to investigators, Rs 20,000 in cash, a gold chain, a mobile phone and a car purchased in the name of Anukalp Mishra’s father were recovered from Anukalp. The vehicle has been seized as part of the investigation.
Police further alleged that Lavkush Mishra had purchased a gold locket for his wife using money siphoned from temple donations. The gold locket, along with Rs 38,000 in cash, has been recovered. Another Rs 15,000 in cash was recovered from Karunesh Pandey.
The three accused were taken from Ayodhya Jail on Thursday for custodial interrogation after police secured their remand as part of the ongoing investigation.
A preliminary report submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Uttar Pradesh government has found prima facie evidence of theft and pilferage during the counting of donations at the Ram Temple. The SIT continues to investigate the alleged irregularities.
The case has sparked a political storm in Uttar Pradesh, with opposition parties questioning the functioning of the Ram Mandir Trust and demanding greater accountability. Congress MP Imran Masood accused the trust of failing to maintain transparency over donations and called for restructuring its management along the lines of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. He alleged that devotees were being “looted in the name of faith” and demanded full disclosure of funds received by the temple.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav described the alleged theft of temple donations as a “Mahapaap” (great sin) in Sanatan Dharma and sought a complete overhaul of the temple trust. He questioned the credibility of the government-appointed SIT, alleging it was an attempt at a “whitewash” and claiming one of its members faced fraud charges.
Yadav also alleged that fake donation receipts had been printed by a senior BJP leader, though he did not name anyone.
The BJP has rejected the allegations, with Uttar Pradesh minister Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary accusing the Samajwadi Party and the Congress of trying to politicise the issue. He said the BJP respected Sanatan traditions and appealed to religious leaders not to become part of what he termed the opposition’s anti-Sanatan agenda. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has repeatedly assured strict action against anyone found guilty of misappropriating temple funds.
Meanwhile, the controversy has also drawn attention to allegations of financial irregularities at the Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand.
The Uttarakhand government has initiated action following allegations of misappropriation of donations at Badrinath Dham, while some priests have demanded that the probe be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure transparency.
Bhaskar Purohit, a priest from Jammu and Kashmir, alleged that corruption had peaked during the pilgrimage season and said only a CBI investigation would uncover the full truth. Responding to the controversy, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said crimes involving temple offerings were a grave offence and assured that no guilty person would be spared. He said a committee had been constituted while police had launched a preliminary inquiry.
A criminal case has also been registered against Pramod Nautiyal, a personal assistant in the office of the chairman of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), following allegations that temple offerings had been illegally diverted for personal gain.
The FIR, lodged at Badrinath Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, accuses Nautiyal of misappropriating temple funds. Investigations in both cases are continuing.
