An Ayodhya court ordered eight individuals into judicial custody on June 26, 2026, following allegations of embezzling Ram Mandir donation funds [1], [2].
The case highlights potential vulnerabilities in the handling of massive public donations for the temple, involving a mix of public servants and financial institution employees.
The accused appeared before a special court dealing with Prevention of Corruption Act cases [1], [2]. The court ordered judicial custody until June 29, 2026 [1].
Authorities are investigating the misappropriation of cash and valuables donated by devotees for the construction of the temple [1], [5]. During the investigation, officials recovered Rs 79,85,493 [3], a figure reported by some sources as nearly Rs 80 lakh [2].
The group of eight accused includes public servants and employees of the State Bank of India [1]. The prosecution officer said five to six of the arrested persons were bank employees who were deployed for counting cash donations received at the temple and were drawing salaries from the bank [4].
The investigation focuses on how these individuals allegedly diverted funds meant for the religious site. The legal proceedings will continue as the court evaluates the evidence gathered during the initial police custody phase [3].
“Eight individuals accused of embezzling Ram Mandir donation funds were produced before an Ayodhya court”
The involvement of State Bank of India employees and public servants suggests a breach of trust within the official financial pipeline established for temple donations. Because the Ram Mandir is a site of immense national and religious significance, the embezzlement of nearly Rs 80 lakh may lead to more stringent auditing of all donation collection processes to prevent further leakage of public contributions.
