Ayodhya Police Seeks ED Support

for Ram Temple Donation Probe

Report By Y-Trendz

New Delhi/Ayodhya, July 1, 2026 — The investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has taken a significant turn, with Ayodhya Police formally requesting

assistance from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to examine whether the scam involved money laundering. The Uttar Pradesh government has since communicated the request to the central government, paving the way for central agencies to enter a probe that began weeks ago at the local level.

According to reports, the ED may investigate whether proceeds from the alleged theft of devotees' offerings were layered or moved through the financial system in ways consistent with money laundering. There are also suspicions that the scale of the alleged fraud could extend beyond Uttar Pradesh into other states and possibly abroad, prompting the possibility that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could also register a case of its own alongside the ED's involvement.

Income Tax Department Also Involved

The Income Tax Department has separately launched its own inquiry, triggered by findings that the eight individuals arrested in the case had allegedly amassed assets worth crores of rupees. Officials say the department is examining whether these properties may be seized as proceeds of the alleged crime. Ayodhya Police have also sought help from the department to gather detailed financial information on the accused, as investigators work to trace how allegedly stolen donation money may have been converted into real estate and other assets.

SIT Given More Time

The Uttar Pradesh government has granted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case an additional 15 days to complete its inquiry. As part of the widening investigation, police carried out fresh searches at the homes of the accused following renewed questioning of suspects lodged in Faizabad jail. Around 400 employees of the private security agency responsible for guarding the temple are now under surveillance, and Radio Operation Officer Arjun Dev — who had overseen the team monitoring more than 1,600 CCTV cameras installed at the temple complex — has been removed from his post.

Financial Trail Widens

Separately, Ayodhya Police have sought five years of banking records from seven banks where the eight arrested accused and the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust maintain accounts. Investigators are seeking account statements, transaction histories, KYC documents and deposit records to reconstruct the financial trail behind the alleged diversion of donations, and to identify any unusual cash deposits, withdrawals or inter-account transfers. Police have also visited the State Bank of India's Ayodhya Dham and Naya Ghat branches, questioning bank officials for several hours as part of the effort, with around 70 to 80 individuals reportedly under the broader scanner.

In a related development, police recovered four donation boxes believed to have come from the temple at a yoga centre in Kaushalpuri. The boxes, marked with QR codes and labeled "Ramrajya Kosh," were found to contain roughly ₹38 lakh in cash wrapped inside blankets. Investigators say the yoga centre is linked to an establishment associated with the brother of one of the arrested accused.

Background of the Case

The scandal first came to light after a former supervisor of the temple trust's accounting team publicly raised concerns about irregularities. An FIR was subsequently filed, and eight people connected to the temple's donation-counting process were arrested, with police recovering close to ₹80 lakh in cash — along with some foreign currency — from several of the accused. The case has since expanded to examine alleged security lapses inside the donation counting room, allegations of commission-based hiring practices involving a former trustee, and questions over how gold, silver and other valuables donated by devotees were recorded and stored.

The fallout has already reached the temple trust's leadership, with longtime general secretary Champat Rai and other senior trustees stepping down in the wake of the allegations. The case has also stirred concern within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, whose functionaries have described it as damaging to the temple's reputation, while opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh have seized on the controversy ahead of state elections expected in the coming months.

With the ED and possibly the CBI now poised to join the probe, investigators are expected to widen their focus beyond the immediate donation-counting staff to examine whether a larger, more organised financial network was involved in siphoning funds meant for one of India's most prominent religious institutions.