Ayodhya Donation Row: UP Police Registers FIR as Probe Into Temple Funds Widens

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has moved to legal action following allegations of fund embezzlement from temple donation boxes.

The sanctity of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has come under the scanner following allegations of financial irregularities, prompting the UP Police to swing into action. An FIR has been registered against eight individuals, including key accused Tinnu Yadav and Anukalp Mishra, marking a significant escalation in a probe that has been brewing since mid-June.

The case, lodged at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station by Trust member Krishna Mohan, invokes serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused face allegations of theft by a servant, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. At the heart of the matter is the alleged diversion of cash offerings made by devotees, raising questions about the security protocols surrounding the donation boxes placed within the temple premises.

From SIT Findings to Police Action

The legal move follows a preliminary report submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath just 48 hours earlier. The report was compiled by a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) spearheaded by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, alongside Lucknow Range IG Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neelratan Kumar.

The state government had fast-tracked the formation of this SIT after the Trust formally requested an inquiry into irregularities reported on June 13. While the police are currently tight-lipped about the specific quantum of the missing funds, the breadth of the charges suggests a coordinated effort to misappropriate money intended for the upkeep and development of the temple.

Why it matters: The Bigger Picture

For a site of such immense emotional and national significance, the integrity of financial administration is paramount. The Ram Temple is not merely a place of worship but a site that draws millions of pilgrims and massive public funding. Any sign of leakage or embezzlement strikes at the core of the public trust that sustains such institutions.

By involving an SIT and now pursuing a criminal case under the BNS, the administration is clearly aiming to preempt any erosion of credibility. The challenge for the UP Police will be to conduct a forensic audit that is as transparent as it is thorough. The outcome of this investigation will serve as a bellwether for how the state manages the oversight of large, donation-driven religious trusts, ensuring that the devotion of the faithful is shielded from administrative malpractice.