An investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a Hindu site closely associated with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is casting a shadow over one of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) flagship initiatives.
Two office bearers of the temple trust have resigned, and police have arrested eight officials managing the site following allegations of embezzlement that surfaced earlier this month, according to a source familiar with the ongoing investigation who requested anonymity.
Monthly cash donations to the temple reportedly range from 40 million to 100 million rupees (approximately US$422,000 to US$1.05 million). The allegations include theft of cash, gold, and silver jewelry donated by devotees. In India, it is common for worshippers to offer money and precious metals as acts of devotion, and some donations may not be individually recorded before being deposited.
The Ram Temple, constructed at the disputed Ayodhya site following the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict, represents a decades-long campaign led by the BJP and its ideological parent organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. This campaign has played a significant role in transforming the BJP into a national political force.
The probe into the temple’s financial management comes as the BJP prepares for a critical election in Uttar Pradesh later this year, raising concerns about potential political fallout.
The temple trust has not responded to requests for comment.
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