Congress slams BJP over silence on Ram temple donation theft case in Ayodhya

The Congress party has hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over their silence on the Ram temple donation theft case in Ayodhya. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated on Monday that citizens must hold the responsible individuals accountable.

Investigation Details

The massive theft at the temple came to light on June 4, 2026. Footage recorded between April 27 and June 5 shows staff members hiding bundles of currency notes during counting. The Uttar Pradesh government formed a special investigation team on June 13, which later submitted its final report to the trust on August 17, granting clean chits to Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. An FIR was registered on June 25, leading to the arrest of eight counting staff members the following day.

Demands and Allegations

The Congress party has demanded an independent and transparent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Mr. Ramesh alleged that the special investigation team was formed to suit the accused individuals and questioned why low-level staff are in jail while high-ranking officials remain free. He also asked why the total amount of stolen money has not been made public and why the Enforcement Directorate or the Central Bureau of Investigation has not intervened.

Context

Political parties frequently use high-profile local controversies and allegations of administrative oversight to target rival governments ahead of upcoming state elections. Oversight protocols and fund-tracking mechanisms are standard requirements for large religious trusts that manage significant public offerings and donations.