Rs 3,500 Crore In Donations, Then Allegations At Ram Mandir
An SIT is investigating alleged financial irregularities in Ram Mandir donations after suspicious cash, assets, and transparency concerns surfaced.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust manages the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Since the temple opened in January 2024, it has reportedly received around ?3,500 crore in cash donations, along with gold, silver and other valuables.
Recently, allegations of financial irregularities in the handling of these donations have led to a major investigation.
How Donations Are Counted
Every day, cash from around 35 donation boxes is counted by nearly 50 people under CCTV surveillance before being deposited in an SBI branch. The process involves private agency staff, trust employees, and audit teams from SBI and TCS.
Allegations Surface
Former Chief Accounts Officer Mahipal Singh alleged that some employees deliberately recorded lower donation amounts than what was actually counted, allowing large sums of money to disappear. He claimed he informed General Secretary Champat Rai but no action was taken. Soon after, he was removed from his post.
The issue gained political attention after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged a scam involving crores of rupees. The Uttar Pradesh government then formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
What The SIT Found
Following raids in June, the SIT reportedly found suspicious cash and assets that appeared far beyond the known incomes of several employees. An FIR has been registered against eight people, and the investigation is continuing.
Among those under scrutiny:
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Lavkush Mishra, earning around ?18,000 per month, was allegedly found with ?10 lakh in cash.
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KD Tiwari, who handled donated jewellery, is accused of owning assets worth nearly ?5 crore. He denies any wrongdoing.
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Manish Yadav was reportedly found with ?36 lakh in cash.
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Ramshankar "Tinnu" Yadav, once an auto-rickshaw driver, is suspected of owning assets worth nearly ?50 crore, including hostels, restaurants, property and luxury vehicles. He says his wealth came from legitimate businesses.
Investigators are also examining reports that important CCTV footage may have been deleted, while nearly 150 people are said to be under suspicion.
Political Reactions
Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh claimed he knew about the alleged misuse of temple donations but refused to name those involved. BJP leader Rajneesh Singh has also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the trust's finances publicly available for greater transparency.
Earlier Warning Signs
Documents show that an audit conducted in 2020 had already raised concerns about poor financial record-keeping, weak management, lack of transparency, and the absence of a proper HR system. Sources believe many of the current issues could have been prevented if these recommendations had been implemented.
Current Status
The investigation is ongoing. The police and the courts will determine whether any financial wrongdoing occurred and who, if anyone, is legally responsible.
