New Delhi: A three member Special Investigation Team appointed by the Uttar Pradesh state government probing alleged irregularities linked to donation collections at the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya are examining financial records of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, with questions being raised over donation receipts, expenditure disclosures and security arrangements, according to sources familiar with the developments and locals tracking the case.
The alleged misappropriation has come just nine months before the state goes to poll and will raise uncomfortable questions for the ruling BJP as a Ran temple in Ayodhya was one of its core agenda for decades and was one of the primary reasons for its ascent to power.
As per sources, the said SIT was formed by the Yogi Adityanath Nath government after directions were received from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Sources said documents under scrutiny relate to the period between 1 April 2025 and 28 February 2026, roughly the second year after the Ram Mandir’s consecration and opening to devotees in January 2024.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is headed by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das as chairman, with Govind Dev Giri serving as treasurer and Champat Rai as general secretary. Other members include K. Parasaran, retired IAS official Nripendra Misra, Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati, Swami Vishwaprasannatirtha, Parmanand Giri, Dr Anil Mishra, Krishnamohan and Mahant Dinesh Das.
Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi serves as an ex-officio member, while UP bureaucrat Sanjay Prasad represents the Uttar Pradesh government. A Joint Secretary-rank officer nominated by the Centre is also an ex-officio member of the trust.
According to records reviewed by investigators and local reporters, the trust received approximately Rs 83 crore in donations during the 11-month period. The donations reportedly included about Rs 55 crore through donation boxes, Rs 18 crore through donation counters, Rs 8 crore through online contributions, Rs 75 lakh from foreign devotees and smaller amounts from other sources.
The same records show the trust earned around Rs 138 crore as interest income from deposits and investments, taking total income during the period to approximately Rs 221 crore, sources said.
Documents being examined reportedly indicate that the trust held funds and investments worth around Rs 1,900 crore. The holdings included approximately Rs 805 crore with State Bank of India, Rs 653 crore with Punjab National Bank, Rs 328 crore with Bank of Baroda, Rs 80 crore in mutual funds, Rs 55 crore in auto-sweep accounts and about Rs 5 crore in savings accounts.
Sources said expenditure records show around Rs 152 crore was spent on ongoing construction works within the temple complex, while boundary wall construction accounted for another Rs 87 crore. Other reported expenses included Rs 11 crore on bhog-prasad, Rs 8 crore on grain storage facilities, Rs 7.67 crore on employee salaries, Rs 4 crore on guest house maintenance, Rs 3.68 crore on electricity charges, Rs 1.20 crore on soil filling works and Rs 1.10 crore on works related to Angad Tila.
Investigators are also examining expenditure linked to a Dharmdhwaja installation ceremony held on 25 November 2025. The event, attended by VVIPscost approximately Rs 10 crore and hosted between 5,000 and 6,000 guests, including around 1,500 visitors from outside Ayodhya.
Sources said questions have been raised regarding whether detailed expenditure statements relating to the event were adequately shared with all trust members. Locals following the developments said some members had expressed concerns over the level of financial disclosure provided during meetings, including whether item-wise details of spending and donation receipts were regularly circulated.
The records further show that the trust purchased two parcels of land during the period at a combined cost of about Rs 26.69 crore. One parcel measuring around 2.87 acres was reportedly acquired for more than Rs 21 crore for a proposed pilgrim facility centre and hospital, while another plot near the temple was purchased for Rs 5.69 crore.
Investigators are also examining security arrangements after records showed expenditure of nearly Rs 10 crore on CCTV systems and private security personnel. Sources said the probe is seeking to establish how alleged thefts from donation collections could occur despite the security measures in place.
According to documents, nearly 16 crore devotees visited the temple during the 11-month period. The reported donation collection of Rs 83 crore during that period has also come under scrutiny as part of the wider inquiry into donation accounting and collection mechanisms, sources said.
No findings of wrongdoing have been established yet and the investigation remains underway. Trust officials have not publicly commented on the specific issues being examined.
