New Delhi — The head of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (SRJTK), the trust overseeing the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, urged political leaders and the public to refrain from turning a recent donation‑theft controversy into a partisan issue.
The trust’s chief, Mahant Ram Gopal Das, made the remarks on Thursday after a complaint was filed alleging that a portion of funds donated to the trust had gone missing. The complaint, lodged by a senior devotee, claims that roughly ₹ 2 crore (about $240,000) earmarked for temple construction was diverted during a transfer to a bank account managed by the trust.
The devotee’s grievance was registered with the Ayodhya police, which has opened a preliminary inquiry. According to the police statement, the alleged loss was identified during an internal audit of the trust’s accounts for the fiscal year 2025‑26. The audit flagged discrepancies in the entries for donations received between July and September 2025.
Mahant Ram Gopal Das said the trust is cooperating fully with law‑enforcement agencies and that an internal verification team has been constituted to trace the missing amount. “We have always maintained transparency in handling donations, and we will ensure that any irregularities are addressed promptly,” he told reporters. He added that the matter should not be exploited for political gain, noting that the trust’s work is a “non‑political, spiritual endeavour.”
Political figures from both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition parties have already commented. A senior BJP spokesperson said the government will support a thorough investigation, while an opposition leader called for “greater scrutiny of all religious trusts receiving public donations.” Neither side has provided additional evidence linking the alleged theft to any political motive.
The SRJTK, established by a 2019 Supreme Court verdict, is responsible for managing a corpus of donations that has grown to more than ₹ 2,500 crore since the temple’s foundation stone was laid in 2020. The trust’s financial disclosures, filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, indicate that it follows a standard audit process overseen by a chartered accountant.
Analysis: The trust’s call to keep the issue out of partisan debate reflects a broader pattern of religious institutions seeking to shield operational matters from political turbulence. While the police inquiry is still at an early stage, the allegation of a ₹ 2 crore shortfall could raise questions about internal controls, especially given the trust’s large inflow of public donations. The involvement of a senior devotee in filing the complaint may signal internal dissent or a genuine concern over financial stewardship.
If the investigation uncovers mismanagement, the trust could face reputational damage and heightened scrutiny from both regulators and political actors, potentially affecting future fundraising. Conversely, if the probe clears the trust, the episode may reinforce its claims of transparency and could be used by political parties to demonstrate their stance on accountability in religious bodies.
The outcome will likely hinge on the forensic audit results and any subsequent legal proceedings, which could set precedents for how large‑scale religious trusts in India manage and report donations.
Sources
– “Don’t politicise matter: Ram Mandir trust chief amid donation theft row,” Times of India, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dont-politicise-matter-ram-mandir-trust-chief-amid-donation-theft-row/articleshow/132214623.cms
Story synopsis gathered from: Times of India – Top Stories — source
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