RSS Demands Thorough Probe

into Ram Temple Donation Row

Report By Y-Trendz

New Delhi, July 4, 2026 — The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has called for a rigorous, impartial investigation into allegations of theft from donation collections at the Ram Temple in

Ayodhya, adding significant political weight to a controversy that has embarrassed the temple trust and rattled the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of next year's Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

RSS Backs SIT, Demands Strict Punishment

In a statement issued Friday, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said the alleged theft from donation boxes at the Shri Ram Lalla temple had deeply affected the sentiments of devotees across the country. He said it was essential that anyone found guilty after the investigation face severe punishment, while expressing confidence in the ongoing probe being carried out by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Hosabale, describing the Ayodhya temple as a symbol of faith and sacrifice built through generations of struggle, said the allegations had caused widespread anger and disappointment among devotees. He urged the temple trust and the SIT to take all necessary steps to restore transparency and public confidence, and called on the broader Hindu community to remain patient while the investigation runs its course. He also cautioned against what he described as attempts by "anti-Hindu and anti-national forces" to exploit the controversy for political gain.

The RSS leader added that it was natural for Hindu society, including the RSS itself, to expect the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to treat the episode as an extraordinary lapse and to move quickly to strengthen its financial management and internal controls. He expressed confidence that the Trust would ultimately restore devotees' faith through more transparent and accountable systems going forward.

How the Controversy Unfolded

The alleged embezzlement first came to light on June 7, prompting the state government to set up the SIT to investigate. An FIR was subsequently filed on June 25 based on the team's preliminary findings, and eight people connected to the counting of temple donations have since been arrested, including an aide of senior VHP functionary Champat Rai.

Investigators have recovered substantial amounts of cash from several of the accused, along with small quantities of gold, silver, and foreign currency. The SIT has also been tasked with a broader re-audit of the Trust's accounts covering the past five years, examining not only cash donations but also construction-related expenditure and the handling of jewellery, gold, and silver offered by devotees.

The scandal has placed unusual scrutiny on Champat Rai, the Trust's general secretary and one of the most visible faces of the decades-long Ram temple movement, who has long cultivated a public image of personal austerity. Along with fellow trustee Anil Mishra, Rai has reportedly stepped back from his role amid the fallout and has been questioned by Uttar Pradesh police. Notably, some of the sharpest criticism over the affair has come from within the wider Hindutva movement itself, reflecting long-simmering rivalries among the different factions that have historically been involved in the temple's affairs.

Political Fallout

The controversy has quickly become a flashpoint in Uttar Pradesh politics, with the state's Assembly elections due early next year. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has sought to publicly distance itself from Champat Rai as the probe has intensified, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has weighed in, saying that playing with public sentiment over the matter is unacceptable.

Opposition parties have moved to capitalize on the controversy as well. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has accused the BJP of betraying the faith and devotion of ordinary worshippers, invoking the legacy of B.R. Ambedkar in his criticism of the party. The episode has proven especially awkward for the BJP, for which the completion and consecration of the Ram Temple in January 2024 — attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and Adityanath — was a defining political achievement. Critics have noted that the allegations of financial mismanagement at India's most prominent Hindu temple, barely a year after it opened to lay devotees, undercut the party's messaging around governance and transparency.

Even members of the Ayodhya legal community have weighed in on the case's sensitivity: the local bar association reportedly moved to fine lawyers representing the accused, underscoring how emotionally charged the matter has become.

What Happens Next

The SIT's investigation and the ordered re-audit of the Trust's finances are expected to continue over the coming weeks, with authorities under pressure to deliver clear findings given the scale of public attention. The matter is also expected to be discussed at an upcoming RSS meeting scheduled to be held in Karnataka starting July 10, where the organization's broader response to the controversy, and its implications for the temple trust's future management, are likely to be on the agenda.

For now, the RSS's public intervention signals that the Sangh Parivar views the episode as serious enough to demand accountability publicly, even as it works to contain any damage to the sentiment surrounding one of the movement's most significant achievements.