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EYE ON INDIA JULY 17, 2026 | The Indian Eye 6

Ram Temple donation row

widens as probe gathers pace,

political blame game intensifies

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
he investigation into the al-
leged theft of donations from
Tthe Ram Mandir in Ayodhya
has gathered momentum, with police
recovering cash, gold jewellery, a mo-
bile phone and a car during custodial
interrogation of three accused, even
as the controversy triggered fresh po-
litical 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. Offi-
cials said the investigation has yielded Treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Govind Dev Giri, leaves for the Ram Temple from Vaidehi Bhavan,
several crucial leads. in Ayodhya on Wednesday (ANI Video Grab)
According to investigators, Rs
20,000 in cash, a gold chain, a mo- The case has sparked a political name anyone. Jammu and Kashmir, alleged that
bile phone and a car purchased in storm in Uttar Pradesh, with oppo- The BJP has rejected the alle- corruption had peaked during the
the name of Anukalp Mishra’s father sition parties questioning the func- gations, with Uttar Pradesh minister pilgrimage season and said only a
were recovered from Anukalp. The tioning of the Ram Mandir Trust and Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary accus- CBI investigation would uncover the
vehicle has been seized as part of the demanding greater accountability. ing the Samajwadi Party and the Con- full truth. Responding to the contro-
investigation. Congress MP Imran Masood accused gress of trying to politicise the issue. versy, Uttarakhand Chief Minister
Police further alleged that the trust of failing to maintain trans- He said the BJP respected Sanatan Pushkar Singh Dhami said crimes in-
Lavkush Mishra had purchased a parency over donations and called for traditions and appealed to religious volving temple offerings were a grave
gold locket for his wife using money restructuring its management along leaders not to become part of what offence and assured that no guilty
siphoned from temple donations. The the lines of the Vaishno Devi Shrine he termed the opposition’s anti-San- person would be spared. He said
gold locket, along with Rs 38,000 in Board. He alleged that devotees were atan agenda. Chief Minister Yogi Ad- a committee had been constituted
cash, has been recovered. Another being “looted in the name of faith” ityanath has repeatedly assured strict while police had launched a prelim-
Rs 15,000 in cash was recovered from and demanded full disclosure of funds action against anyone found guilty of inary inquiry.
Karunesh Pandey. received by the temple. misappropriating temple funds. A criminal case has also been
The three accused were taken Samajwadi Party president Akh- Meanwhile, the controversy has registered against Pramod Nautiyal,
from Ayodhya Jail on Thursday for ilesh Yadav described the alleged also drawn attention to allegations of a personal assistant in the office of
custodial interrogation after police theft of temple donations as a “Ma- financial irregularities at the Badri- the chairman of the Badrinath-Ke-
secured their remand as part of the hapaap” (great sin) in Sanatan Dhar- nath temple in Uttarakhand. darnath Temple Committee (BKTC),
ongoing investigation. ma and sought a complete overhaul The Uttarakhand government following allegations that temple of-
A preliminary report submitted of the temple trust. He questioned has initiated action following alle- ferings had been illegally diverted for
by the Special Investigation Team the credibility of the government-ap- gations of misappropriation of do- personal gain.
(SIT) to the Uttar Pradesh govern- pointed SIT, alleging it was an attempt nations at Badrinath Dham, while The FIR, lodged at Badrinath
ment has found prima facie evidence at a “whitewash” and claiming one of some priests have demanded that the Police Station under provisions of
of theft and pilferage during the its members faced fraud charges. probe be handed over to the Central the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, accuses
counting of donations at the Ram Yadav also alleged that fake do- Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to en- Nautiyal of misappropriating temple
Temple. The SIT continues to investi- nation receipts had been printed by a sure transparency. funds. Investigations in both cases
gate the alleged irregularities. senior BJP leader, though he did not Bhaskar Purohit, a priest from are continuing.

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