What Happened?
An FIR was lodged on Thursday, June 25, 2026, over allegations of embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The FIR comes amid an ongoing probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which submitted a preliminary report of its findings to the Uttar Pradesh government two days ago.
Who Filed the FIR?
The FIR was registered on the complaint of Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Who Are the Accused?
Those named in the FIR are: Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinnu Yadav, Manish Yadav and others.
However, the FIR has not named Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, whose name had also surfaced in the alleged donation theft. According to reports, one devotee alleged that he made a donation of a silver artifact to Champat Rai but did not receive any receipt.
Sections Invoked
The case has been registered under Sections 306 (theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master), 316 (criminal breach of trust), 317 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), among other penal provisions.
How Did It Come to Light?
Allegations were first made by former SP MLA from Ayodhya, Pawan Pandey, who claimed that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore in donations were misappropriated from the Ram Mandir. Following the allegations, on June 14, the state government constituted a three-member SIT to probe the alleged scam involving offerings made at the Ram Mandir, following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust.
Who Is on the SIT?
The SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.
CM Yogi’s Stance
A senior official stated that the SIT has made “strong, strict” recommendations and that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is “very serious” on the matter, adding: “Whosoever is found guilty would be sternly dealt with.”
Political Reactions
Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mahrotra demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying: “After writing an FIR alleging theft of donations at the Ram Temple, the Chief Minister of the state has no moral right to remain in power even for a day.”
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) also joined the growing demand for an FIR, while senior AAP leaders including Arvind Kejriwal reached the temple town on Thursday evening demanding a case be lodged.
Supreme Court Petition
A fresh petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation into the allegations, requesting the formation of a CBI-led SIT to probe the reported missing funds, financial irregularities, mismanagement, and other alleged illegalities concerning the affairs and administration of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Source: OrissaPost | ANI | India.com | The Statesman