Ayodhya

SC to hear pleas seeking probe into Ram temple donations case on July 13

The Supreme Court would hear a batch of pleas seeking a fair and time-bound probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on July 13. On July 7, an Ayodhya court granted one-day police remand for three of the eight accused arrested in connection with the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple. The court authorised the remand for Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey. On June 29, a local court had sent all the eight accused to 14-day judicial custody. According to the Supreme Court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana will hear as many as three petitions filed on the issue when the apex court reopens on Monday. Narendra Kumar Goswami, one of the three petitioners, has moved the top court seeking a CBI probe into the incident. He also sought a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of the finances of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the affairs

Over 50% of employees involved in counting donations at Ram temple resign

Over half of the employees engaged in counting donations at the Ram temple have resigned amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of offerings, reducing the strength of counting personnel to just around a dozen, sources said on Friday. Trust sources said attendance at the donation counting centre had already dropped after the case came to light, with only 15-20 of the around 40 personnel regularly reporting for duty due to fear following the investigation. According to the sources, around 20 of the counting staff have resigned from their duty. The employees who resigned cited increased workload, saying the counting process has become more time-consuming after the alleged theft surfaced. The employees also said the counting exercise, which was earlier carried out in two shifts, has now been reduced to a single shift lasting around nine to 10 hours, without any increase in wages. They further said that while donations were earlier counted on tables and chairs, the

Cong seeks Ram temple trust's dissolution over donation theft allegations

Congress accuses the BJP-RSS of shielding the real culprits in the Ram temple donation theft case and demands dissolution of the trust and a Supreme Court-monitored probe

Kejriwal seeks 'stricter' action in Ayodhya Ram temple donation theft case

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday sought stricter action against the "donation thieves" in the Ayodhya Ram temple embezzlement case and said people want them to be hanged. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said the alleged irregularities were serious, noting that an FIR had been registered in the matter. "If no theft had taken place, an FIR would not have been lodged, and eight people would not have been arrested," he said, adding that it is people's demand that the "donation thieves be hanged". "Only FIR is not sufficient," he added. He also alleged that many temples and religious institutions across the country had come under the control of people involved in donation theft. Such institutions should be freed from their control and handed over to religious leaders for proper management, the AAP chief said. Kejriwal added that those who are raising the issue are being targeted instead they are demanding action against the alleged culprits.

Ram Temple donation controversy: Trust accepts resignations of Rai, Mishra

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust appointed Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary and initiated the process to appoint a chief executive officer

Ram Temple Trust meet to decide fate of top office-bearers on Monday

Controversy over temple donations deepens as the Ram Temple Trust prepares to decide on resignations and internal restructuring

Extremely pained, angered by theft of Ram temple donations, says RSS

In its first statement on the issue, the RSS termed the alleged embezzlement of Ayodhya Ram temple donations "unfortunate" and called for strict punishment for those found guilty

Ram temple row: SIT to re-audit temple trust's accounts of past 5 years

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple here will conduct a re-audit of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust's accounts for the past five years after the preliminary probe indicated large-scale irregularities, sources said on Friday. The re-audit will cover construction-related expenditure as well as jewellery and other gold and silver items received as donations, the sources said. The SIT will carry out a detailed scrutiny of the Trust's financial records for the entire five-year period, the sources said. In another development, the Ayodhya Police questioned key accused Avinash Shukla after taking him into custody. Shukla, who was involved in donation-counting work, was arrested earlier in the case, and a local court on Thursday granted his police custody for 24 hours. Police sources said Shukla, from whose possession the highest cash recovery in the case has been made so far, is facing intensified legal ...

Ram temple donation row: Notice to accused's wife over illegal construction

The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has served a notice to the wife of Ram temple donation theft accused Lavkush Mishra over the alleged unauthorised construction of a house under her name, as the police intensified their investigation into the alleged embezzlement case, official and police sources said on Thursday. According to ADA sources, the house under construction is located in Banvirpur village in Sohawal tehsil. The land was purchased in the name of Lavkush Mishra's wife, Supriya Mishra, and the construction was undertaken without obtaining the mandatory approval from the development authority. Police sources said investigators also searched Lavkush Mishra's residence on Wednesday and questioned his family members as part of the ongoing probe. Investigators may tighten the legal proceedings against accused Avinash Shukla, from whose possession the highest cash recovery in the case has been made so far, police sources indicated. According to police sources, cash recoveri

Ram temple donation row: Champat Rai, Anil Mishra resign from Trust

The general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, and its member Anil Mishra have tendered their resignation, the Trust said on Saturday and assured that a fair inquiry will be conducted into allegations related to the Ram temple donations. A statement from the temple Trust, issued by its treasurer Govind Dev Giri, said that the Trust has received the two resignations and will take a decision on them at its next meeting on July 11. The Trust said that they are shocked, hurt and deeply saddened by the recent developments and are duty-bound to ensure that a fair inquiry is conducted and the faith of devotees is restored. Eight persons named in an FIR over the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram temple in Ayodhya were arrested on Thursday night, according to police.

Congress questions PM's silence, seeks arrests in Ram temple donation row

The Congress on Saturday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and demanded the immediate arrest of those behind the "scam". Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Prasad Singh said the investigation of this entire matter should be conducted under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge because the corruption is "deep-rooted". He also demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible in the trust against whom serious allegations have been made, and that the trust be dissolved as it has lost the "people's trust". Singh also alleged that the incident reveals that BJP leaders are not "true Ram bhakts" because they did not maintain Lord Ram's 'maryada' by not ordering an investigation themselves. "The country wants to know why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent on such a big issue... "Prime Minister Narendra Modi should step forward to ensure a fair investigation of t

Ram temple donation row: SIT finds blatant SOP violations, 8 arrested

The alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has snowballed into a major controversy, with an SIT probe finding lapses in the shrine's donation management system and eight people associated with the counting of cash and valuables being arrested. Here is a look at what the investigation has found so far: While the details of how the donations were siphoned and exactly how much are still under investigation, the special investigation team (SIT) has pointed to some major lapses in its preliminary report. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) like deploying a security guard during a counting process, frisking of personnel while entering and leaving the counting room, and preserving CCTV footage of the donation-counting process for 180 days were violated, sources said, citing the findings of the report. In violation of rules, Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, the former driver of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, held key

Priyanka Gandhi calls alleged Ram temple donation theft tragic, seeks probe

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday termed the alleged theft of donations collected for the Ram temple in Ayodhya "tragic" and "shameful", and said those responsible for collecting and safeguarding the donations should also be held accountable. Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the Wayanad Collectorate, Priyanka demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged incident. "It is really tragic. People from across the country-those who believe and have faith-made donations, and now those donations have reportedly been stolen. I think it is tragic and shameful," she said. She said the government must investigate what happened, how it happened, and why it happened. Priyanka said many people had contributed to the temple as part of a nationwide fundraising drive and that those who collected the donations must also take responsibility. "If people have given, women have given from their savings, from their homes, poor people have given

VHP denies knowledge of Champat Rai's exit as Ram temple trust general secy

PTI repeatedly attempted to contact Rai and Mishra for their response to the reports but they were unavailable

Action began immediately: CM Yogi after arrests in Ram temple donation case

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said action against those accused in the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya began immediately after the SIT submitted its report, asserting that those found guilty would not be spared. Addressing a public meeting in Deoria, Adityanath reiterated his warning against hurting people's faith. "Ayodhya is a symbol of the faith of all of us and of Sanatan Dharma. Do not cast an evil eye on Ayodhya. Learn to uphold the dignity of Lord Ram. We had said an SIT had been constituted and that action would begin as soon as its report was received," Adityanath said, recalling his remarks in Ayodhya on June 19. "The SIT report came and action started immediately. I assure you that, as I had said, we will separate truth from falsehood," he said. The chief minister said no one would be allowed to play with public faith and warned of strict action against anyone found guilty. "Playing with public sentiment i

AAP's Sanjay Singh to submit files to SIT in Ayodhya temple donations probe

Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Sanjay Singh has said that he has been called by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations related to donations and land transactions linked to the Ram temple in Ayodhya and will submit documents to it on Thursday. Singh said the SIT chief, Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, had called him at 11 am on Thursday in connection with the ongoing inquiry. "I had sought time from the SIT and have now been called. I will appear before the SIT tomorrow and submit documents related to the alleged theft of offerings, misappropriation of donations and the alleged land scam," the AAP leader said on Wednesday. He claimed that he possesses several documents connected to the allegations being examined by the SIT and would hand them over to the probe panel. Singh had earlier alleged irregularities in land deals and the handling of donations and offerings linked to the Ram temple, and had sought an independent

Ayodhya Ram temple donation case: SIT submits preliminary report to UP govt

The Special Investigation Team probing allegations of embezzlement of donations given to the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Tuesday submitted its preliminary inquiry report to the Uttar Pradesh government, officials said. The preliminary report was submitted by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad. They said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe is still underway and further facts are being gathered. The Uttar Pradesh government had on June 13 constituted the SIT on a request from the temple trust following allegations of misappropriation of donations received at the Ayodhya Ram temple.

Temple town realty's new calling: Premium housing takes centre stage

Pilgrim footfall and investor demand spur gated, mixed-use projects

₹150 cr for Ayodhya, ₹500 cr for CM tourism scheme in UP's Budget 2026-27

With Rs 150 crore proposed for tourism infrastructure in Ayodhya and Rs 500 crore under the Chief Minister Tourism Places Development Scheme, the Uttar Pradesh Budget 2026-27 tabled on Wednesday places strong emphasis on spiritual tourism, according to an official statement. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna presented the Budget in the Assembly, outlining allocations aimed at strengthening pilgrimage circuits and enhancing visitor amenities across key religious destinations. Under the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple access road project, construction of the main approach road 'Ram Path' in Ayodhya is nearing completion, the statement said. Work is also underway to upgrade the road connecting the proposed Vedic Wellness City at Jamthara to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, it said. The Uttar Pradesh Shri Ayodhya Teerth Vikas Parishad has been allocated Rs 150 crore for tourism infrastructure development in the Ayodhya region. Highlighting the surge in footfall, the statement said that between ..

Ram temple likely to be complete by April-end; estimated cost ₹1,900 crore

All construction work related to the Ram temple in Ayodhya is expected to be completed by April 30, with the overall cost of the project estimated at around Rs 1,900 crore, Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra said on Saturday. Addressing reporters after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Ram Temple Construction Committee here, Mishra said that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Tata Consultancy, which are executing key works at the site, will exit the temple complex by April 30 once construction is over. Mishra further informed that directions have been issued to complete all paperwork and bill payment procedures by the same date. "L&T and Tata Consultancy have offered a three-year warranty for all the work carried out by them. For maintenance and upkeep, a small team from both organisations will remain deployed inside the temple complex," he said. He added that after April 30, all agreements with L&T, Tata Consultancy and the State Construction .