Ram Mandir donation row: How Samajwadi Party leader's post ballooned into raging controversy

Allegations of financial impropriety surrounding donations to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya have ignited a significant controversy, casting a shadow two years after its consecration marked an ideological and political triumph for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The dispute began on June 7 when Samajwadi Party leader Pawan Pandey claimed that between ₹5 crore and ₹7.5 crore (approximately $600,000 to $900,000 USD) in temple offerings had been misappropriated. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust swiftly rejected these accusations, with Champat Rai, the trust's general secretary, asserting that all donations were meticulously accounted for and audited.

Political pressure mounted as opposition figures joined the call for accountability. Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party, demanded an independent investigation, stating that faith necessitates transparency. Leaders from the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) echoed these sentiments, framing the issue as one of public trust rather than partisan politics.

In response to the escalating concerns, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the formation of a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13. The SIT, comprising senior officials from the Lucknow division, began questioning trust officials, administrators, and bank personnel involved in handling donations. Investigators scrutinized recruitment, security systems, and accounting practices related to cash, gold, and silver offerings. The SIT submitted a preliminary report on June 23, recommending a criminal case and structural reforms. Subsequently, on June 25, a police complaint was filed, leading to the arrest of eight individuals.

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no guilty person will be spared