Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party, has alleged that approximately ₹200 crore [1] in donations to the Ayodhya Ram Temple are missing.

The accusation targets the financial management of one of India's most high-profile religious sites. If proven, the missing funds could spark a significant political and legal crisis regarding the transparency of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust.

Yadav filed a petition demanding a judicial probe to ensure financial transparency at the temple's donation counting center. He said, "Crores of rupees are missing from the donations made to the Ram Temple" [1]. The petitioner argues that mismanagement or embezzlement may have occurred during the processing of contributions.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust has denied the charges. A senior official from the trust said the organization is open to a probe and will cooperate fully with any inquiry [2]. The trust maintains there is no evidence of missing funds or financial irregularities.

Confusion surrounded the investigation earlier this month when reports surfaced that four [3] people had been detained in connection with the case. However, the Ayodhya police have since clarified that these reports were inaccurate.

An Ayodhya police spokesperson said, "Reports of four people being detained in connection with the donation case are false" [3].

The controversy centers on the counting center in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. While the Samajwadi Party continues to push for a formal investigation, the trust insists that the accounting remains sound. The dispute highlights the tension between political oversight and the autonomy of the temple trust.

“"Crores of rupees are missing from the donations made to the Ram Temple."”

This dispute underscores the intersection of faith and political scrutiny in Uttar Pradesh. By calling for a judicial probe into the Ram Temple's finances, the Samajwadi Party is challenging the administrative integrity of a project central to the current government's image. The outcome will likely depend on whether a court grants the request for a formal audit, potentially setting a precedent for the financial oversight of large-scale religious trusts in India.