- Ravi Prakash
A controversy over donations collected at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has dominated national discourse for several days, triggering political accusations, official investigations and at least one resignation. According to information gathered through government records and conversations with persons connected to the matter, the controversy originated from a discrepancy detected during routine monthly accounting in May this year.
A devotee who had pledged a substantial donation deposited the amount through the temple’s official collection process. When the month’s total collections were tallied, however, the overall figure recorded was found to be lower than the donation made by that single devotee, raising suspicion among temple officials. Prior to this, unconfirmed reports of irregularities in the temple’s donation-handling process had already reached senior functionaries in Lucknow, but the absence of concrete evidence had prevented any formal action from being initiated.
Following the May discrepancy, investigating officials began a closer examination of the temple’s donation-collection systems. The matter was escalated to senior officials and reached beyond Ayodhya, eventually drawing the attention of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, which sought evidence before proceeding further. Sources indicate that certain senior figures within the organisation initially sought to shield an individual believed to be central to the matter, and RSS leadership was reportedly reluctant to act on the reports at first. Authorisation was subsequently granted to examine CCTV footage from the temple’s donation-collection area, which is said to have substantiated the suspicions and accelerated the inquiry.
On June 4, a comprehensive review of the CCTV footage was conducted. According to officials, no covert surveillance had been required, as those allegedly involved had reportedly been receiving advance information about checks. Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, is understood to have viewed the footage only after sustained pressure from senior officials. The footage reportedly showed seven of eight individuals engaged in the alleged misappropriation of funds. The findings were subsequently shared with authorities in Lucknow, Delhi and Nagpur.
On June 6, Champat Rai visited the residence of one of the accused individuals, accompanied by police personnel. During subsequent questioning of those identified in the footage, one accused admitted to depositing Rs 2 lakh per month from donation funds into his wife’s bank account. Officials recovered Rs 20 lakh that had allegedly been concealed at a hostel by another individual, while a third accused reportedly produced Rs 10 lakh hidden among cow-dung cakes. In total, officials say approximately Rs 80 lakh was recovered from various individuals linked to the case.
Following these recoveries, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed that an FIR be registered and arrests made without delay. However, sources say a Union minister based in Delhi contacted Champat Rai regarding the matter, and Champat Rai is reported to have sought support from senior RSS functionaries in Delhi and Nagpur. Seven of the accused were reportedly confined within the temple premises, while one individual, identified as Tinnu Yadav and described as close to Champat Rai, was released on what sources describe as special instructions. Champat Rai is said to have characterised the matter to senior officials as minor, noting that the funds had been returned and apologies offered, and cautioned that pursuing a formal case could damage the organisation’s reputation. Despite efforts by a section within the Sangh Parivar to protect him, the Prime Minister’s Office, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and senior RSS leadership maintained that the facts of the matter should be established in full.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by Lucknow authorities reportedly found that several temple employees drawing monthly salaries of around Rs 20,000 had accumulated assets worth crores of rupees over a three-year period. After compiling a detailed list of these assets, the SIT team travelled to Ayodhya to conduct further investigation. According to officials, Champat Rai initially sought to be questioned first by the visiting SIT officers, but the team proceeded according to instructions issued from Lucknow. Temple staff, bank employees and security personnel were questioned as part of the investigation, which found that donation funds had reportedly been packed into bags and deposited in banks without standard verification procedures. Investigators concluded that the irregularities reflected an organised pattern of activity. A report on the findings was subsequently prepared, with officials instructed that no individual was to be shielded and that all conclusions be supported by documented evidence.
The report reportedly cited lapses on the part of Champat Rai, including failure to act despite knowledge of the irregularities and alleged efforts to protect those involved. This led to mounting calls for his resignation. According to sources, Nripendra Misra briefed Delhi on developments in the case, following which instructions were issued that Champat Rai step down from his position. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) subsequently moved to relieve him of his responsibilities within the organisation. At a VHP meeting held in Haridwar, and acting on directions from Nagpur, the VHP general secretary travelled to Ayodhya to convey the resignation directive to Champat Rai. Following a flag-hoisting ceremony at the temple on June 23, efforts were made to formalise his exit, though Champat Rai reportedly sought to remain in his post until the investigation concluded. On the evening of June 24, the VHP issued a four-point statement indicating that a case would be filed and that no individual would be exempted from accountability. Sources said that attempts by Champat Rai to reach contacts in Delhi and Nagpur that evening were unsuccessful, and that a resignation letter was prepared for his signature, with officials in Lucknow indicating that the Chief Minister remained firm in his position on the matter.
The controversy, officials and devotee groups note, extends beyond the financial irregularities under investigation and touches on matters of public trust, given that the funds in question were donations made by devotees at the temple. Authorities have indicated that further details are expected to emerge through ongoing legal proceedings.