The Ayodhya Ram Mandir fund theft controversy unfolded over three weeks in June 2026, escalating from social media allegations to arrests and resignations. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister described the controversy as an attempt to target Ram devotees and defame Ayodhya out of frustration by some political parties.
Timeline of Key Events
June 5: Allegations of embezzlement surfaced on social media, claiming theft of cash donations at the Ram Mandir construction site.
June 7: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav mentioned the allegations on his social media account and sought court intervention.
June 8: Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai refuted all allegations, calling them baseless.
June 9: Senior BJP leader Rajnish Singh wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a probe by central agencies.
June 10: The Prime Minister's Office sought a report from the Trust on the matter.
June 11: A video of former Trust accountant Mahipal Singh surfaced, purportedly containing allegations of theft of cash donations.
June 13: The Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations.
June 15: The SIT began its probe, quizzing several Trust employees involved in counting cash.
June 23: The SIT submitted a 150-page interim report to the state government.
June 25: An FIR was lodged against nine people, including named individuals; eight were arrested.
June 26: Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra resigned from their positions.
Impact and Reactions
The controversy has drawn sharp political reactions. The UP Chief Minister accused opposition parties of using the issue to target devotees. The SIT's interim report is expected to detail the findings, but the Trust has maintained that the allegations are false. The arrests and resignations mark a significant development in the case.
