By AMIT KUMAR
As the SIT probe widens and the Trust undergoes a leadership shake-up, the Congress demands a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, while the controversy raises uncomfortable questions about transparency in one of India’s most sacred institutions.
Ayodhya, July 7, 2026 — What began as an alleged theft of devotees’ offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has rapidly transformed into a much larger debate over accountability, governance and transparency. The issue is no longer about a few employees allegedly siphoning off cash from donation boxes. It has become a test of whether institutions built around public faith can remain above scrutiny.
The controversy has already claimed its first political casualties. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has witnessed significant changes in its leadership, while the Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has expanded its probe beyond the alleged theft to examine the financial management of the Trust, including expenditure running into more than ₹124 crore on major religious events.
The SIT was originally constituted with a 15-day deadline to submit its findings. That timeline has become politically significant because every passing day without a final report fuels speculation from both supporters and critics of the Trust.
Meanwhile, Champat Rai, Trust General Secretary who resigned along with member Anil Mishra, has been at the centre of the controversy. Rai has reportedly taken a vow of silence, indicating that he will speak publicly only after the SIT submits its report. The decision may be intended to avoid influencing the investigation, but politically it has created a vacuum that opponents have eagerly filled.
The Congress on Tuesday launched perhaps its strongest attack yet. Addressing a press conference, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot described the alleged theft of offerings as “a grave assault on the faith of millions of Indians” and claimed the episode had exposed the “character, conduct and face” of the BJP-RSS ecosystem.
Gehlot demanded that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust be dissolved immediately and replaced with a new body comprising the country’s Shankaracharyas, religious leaders, saints and representatives from different Hindu traditions. He also called for the entire matter to be investigated by a Supreme Court judge, arguing that only an independent judicial probe could restore public confidence.
The Congress further demanded complete disclosure of all donations received by the temple—including cash, gold, silver and other offerings—drawing a parallel with the Supreme Court’s direction that led to the publication of Electoral Bonds data. The party also sought the public release of the SIT report once completed.
Gehlot questioned the government’s narrative that the matter amounted merely to negligence. If it was only a procedural lapse, he asked, why were FIRs registered, an SIT constituted, arrests made, resignations submitted and accepted? He also criticised the Trust treasurer’s reported claim that he functioned merely as a “dummy” without knowledge of the Trust’s standard operating procedures, saying such admissions reflected institutional failure rather than isolated misconduct.
The Congress also revived earlier allegations surrounding land purchases for the temple, recalling claims that a parcel of land valued at around ₹2 crore was acquired by the Trust for ₹18 crore within minutes through successive transactions.
Politically, the Opposition is seeking to shift the debate from criminal culpability to institutional accountability. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally associated himself with the Ram Temple movement and the consecration ceremony, Congress argues that he cannot remain silent when questions arise over the management of devotees’ contributions.
The BJP, meanwhile, maintains that the alleged wrongdoing is the act of individuals and that the investigation should be allowed to proceed without political interference. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has accused the Opposition of using the controversy to target Sanatan faith rather than waiting for the facts.
That argument, however, cuts both ways. Precisely because the Ram Temple represents the religious aspirations of millions of Indians across political affiliations, demands for transparency are unlikely to fade. As Gehlot pointed out, donations came not just from BJP supporters but from devotees across the country after the Supreme Court verdict cleared the way for the temple’s construction.
Ultimately, the credibility of the Trust may depend less on political rhetoric than on the findings of the SIT. If the investigation is thorough, transparent and publicly released, it could reinforce confidence in the institution. If not, a controversy that began with allegations of stolen donations may leave a much deeper scar—raising uncomfortable questions about stewardship of one of modern India’s most revered religious projects.
Ram Temple Donation Row Set to Rock Parliament, Put PM Modi Under Pressure
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