Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust Faces Allegations of Fund Theft; Eight Employees Arrested
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the Ram temple in Ayodhya, is under scrutiny after allegations of theft and embezzlement of donations surfaced. The trust is estimated to have received around Rs 3,500 crore in cash donations since its formation in February 2020.
A Special Investigation Team of the Uttar Pradesh government submitted a report uncovering multiple financial lapses. Following the report, eight lower-ranking temple employees were arrested and a portion of the stolen funds recovered. The trust’s general secretary and another senior trustee have resigned.
Allegations of financial irregularities first emerged before the temple’s construction, with questions raised about land purchases in which trust officials were named. In 2020, a private audit firm warned that a lack of oversight could undermine accountability, but the warning went unheeded.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has promised strict action against those found guilty. Observers say the incident highlights the need for robust oversight mechanisms in managing large-scale religious donations.
The trust was formed after the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict awarding the disputed site to Hindus. The temple was consecrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024, fulfilling a key promise of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
