Zakat, Waqf funds 'stolen' on large scale, alleges Muslim cleric after Ram Temple row
Synopsis
A Muslim cleric has alleged that ₹40,000 crore in zakat funds and ₹50,000 crore in Waqf-related donations have been misappropriated from mosques and dargahs across India — and is now demanding an SIT probe, citing the same accountability standard being applied to the Ram Temple embezzlement case in Ayodhya.
Key Takeaways
BSSS President and Chief Mufti Maulana Chaudhary Ifraheem Husain alleged large-scale misappropriation of zakat funds and Waqf -related donations on 1 July .
He claimed approximately ₹40,000 crore in zakat funds and ₹50,000 crore in Waqf donations have been stolen, including from Haji Ali Dargah and Ajmer Sharif Dargah .
Husain demanded an SIT probe into the alleged misappropriation, parallel to the one ordered by CM Yogi Adityanath into the Ram Temple funds case.
The documented theft at the Ram Temple stands at ₹79.85 lakh as per court submissions, with accused Lavkush , Anukalp Mishra , and Ram Shankar Yadav (Tinnu Yadav) named in the case.
No official response from Waqf authorities or dargah management bodies has been issued as of the time of reporting.
Aligarh, 1 July — Amid an ongoing investigation into alleged embezzlement at Ayodhya's Ram Temple, Bharatiya Samaj Sevak Sangathan (BSSS) President and Chief Mufti Maulana Chaudhary Ifraheem Husain on Wednesday levelled fresh allegations of large-scale misappropriation of zakat funds from mosques and dargahs, as well as Waqf-related donations.
What Ifraheem Husain Alleged
Speaking to reporters, Ifraheem Husain claimed that zakat funds from Muslim establishments — including Haji Ali Dargah and Ajmer Sharif Dargah — had been misappropriated on a significant scale. 'It is true that zakat funds from all Muslim establishments like mosques, madrassas, dargahs, including Haji Ali Dargah and Ajmer Sharif Dargah, have been stolen and that too at a large scale,' he said.
He alleged that approximately ₹40,000 crore in zakat funds had been siphoned off, with the proceeds reportedly used to purchase properties worth thousands of crores. He further claimed that an additional ₹50,000 crore in Waqf-related donations had also been misappropriated.
Impact on Poor Muslims, Husain Claims
Husain argued that the alleged diversion of funds had directly harmed the most economically vulnerable sections of the Muslim community. 'The resources which were meant to be used for the development of poor and needy Muslims have been stolen and using that the rich have bought properties worth thousands of crores,' he claimed.
'A large section of the Muslim community has weakened due to this theft of zakat funds,' he added, contending that the alleged misuse had stalled welfare and development work for low-income Muslims.
Demand for SIT Probe
Drawing a parallel with the Ram Temple funds case — in which Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry — Husain demanded a similar independent probe into the alleged misappropriation of zakat and Waqf-related funds. The demand signals an attempt to frame both cases as parallel accountability failures, irrespective of religious institution.
The Ram Temple Embezzlement Case: What Is on Record
The backdrop to Husain's allegations is a documented theft of ₹79.85 lakh at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, as per court submissions by the investigating team. Reports indicate that significantly larger sums may have been siphoned off, though only the ₹79.85 lakh figure has been formally recorded to date.
According to documents in the public domain, substantial cash seizures were made from individuals identified as Lavkush and Anukalp Mishra. A third accused, Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav, was reportedly caught concealing ₹1 lakh in cash. Yadav has emerged as a prominent name in the alleged loot, according to reports.
What Comes Next
No official response to Husain's allegations has been issued by mosque or dargah management bodies, nor by the Waqf authorities, as of the time of reporting. Whether the state government or central agencies will take cognisance of the demand for a zakat and Waqf funds probe remains to be seen. The parallel drawn with the Ram Temple SIT is likely to intensify political debate around institutional accountability across religious trusts in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.
Point of View
He is pushing for a symmetry-of-accountability argument: if Hindu religious institutions face state scrutiny, Muslim ones should too. That framing, if it gains traction, could complicate the BJP's political positioning on Waqf reform, which it has championed as a transparency measure. The figures cited — ₹40,000 crore and ₹50,000 crore — are extraordinary and entirely unsubstantiated in the public record; responsible coverage must treat them as allegations, not established fact. The more durable question is whether India has a credible, religion-neutral audit framework for religious endowments at all — and the answer, across temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras, is largely no.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Muslim cleric Ifraheem Husain allege about zakat funds?
Maulana Chaudhary Ifraheem Husain alleged that approximately ₹40,000 crore in zakat funds had been misappropriated from Muslim establishments including mosques, madrassas, and dargahs such as Haji Ali and Ajmer Sharif. He claimed the stolen funds were used to purchase high-value properties, depriving poor Muslims of welfare resources.
What is the connection between the zakat allegation and the Ram Temple case?
Husain drew a direct parallel between his demand and the SIT probe ordered by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath into alleged embezzlement at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He argued that the same accountability standard should apply to the alleged misappropriation of zakat and Waqf funds.
How much money is alleged to have been stolen from Waqf-related donations?
Husain alleged that around ₹50,000 crore in Waqf-related donations had been misappropriated. These claims are unverified and have been attributed solely to Husain; no official investigation into these specific allegations has been announced.
What is the status of the Ram Temple embezzlement case?
A theft of ₹79.85 lakh has been formally documented at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, based on court submissions by the investigating team. Accused individuals Lavkush, Anukalp Mishra, and Ram Shankar Yadav (Tinnu Yadav) have been named, with cash seizures made from the first two and ₹1 lakh recovered from Yadav.
Has any authority responded to the demand for a zakat and Waqf funds probe?
As of the time of reporting, no official response has been issued by Waqf authorities, dargah management bodies, or state and central government agencies. Whether the demand will be taken up for a formal investigation remains unclear.
