Ram Mandir donation row: SP, Congress demand FIR, SIT report made public
Synopsis
The Ram Mandir donation controversy has moved from political allegation to formal investigation — with an SIT already flagging procedural lapses in cash handling and CCTV surveillance. Now opposition parties are demanding an FIR, a sitting High Court judge to oversee the probe, and daily display boards showing donation inflows. The final SIT report, due within a week, could determine whether this becomes a criminal case.
Key Takeaways
The SIT submitted its preliminary report to UP Home Secretary Sanjay Prasad on 23 June , reportedly identifying procedural lapses in cash handling, transportation, and CCTV surveillance at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir .
SP MP Neeraj Kushwaha demanded the SIT report be made public and called for display boards showing daily donation receipts and fund utilisation at the temple.
Congress leader Rudra Daman Singh demanded immediate registration of an FIR and a probe supervised by a sitting High Court judge .
Allegations include questions over the whereabouts of silver bricks weighing around 200 kg reportedly donated by the Sindhi community .
The SIT — constituted on 13 June on CM Yogi Adityanath’s orders — is expected to submit its final report within a week .
No FIR has been registered so far, despite opposition demands and ongoing SIT scrutiny.
Opposition leaders from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Indian National Congress on Wednesday, 24 June intensified pressure over the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation irregularities, demanding a public disclosure of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) findings, immediate registration of an FIR, and High Court-supervised inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of offerings worth thousands of crores.
What the SIT Has Found So Far
The three-member SIT — comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan — submitted its preliminary report to Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary Sanjay Prasad on Tuesday, 23 June. According to reports, the team is understood to have identified procedural lapses at multiple levels in the handling of cash, gold, and jewellery offerings at the temple.
The SIT scrutinised temple records related to gold and jewellery donations, examined the cash-handling process and its transportation to the Temple Trust office, and scanned CCTV footage. It reportedly flagged discrepancies in cash handling, transportation protocols, and surveillance gaps. Several suspects directly involved in managing donations were also questioned during the probe.
SP Calls for Transparency, Display Boards on Donations
SP MP Neeraj Kushwaha said the SIT report must be thoroughly reviewed by the government and released publicly. “Whatever report has been prepared by the SIT should be thoroughly reviewed by the government. A proper disclosure should be made, and those responsible for managing the system should be removed immediately if any wrongdoing is found. Lord Ram is worshipped by millions of people in this country, and if there has been any misuse or looting of donations offered in the name of faith, it deeply hurts the sentiments of people across the nation,” Kushwaha said.
He also flagged a specific allegation: members of the Sindhi community had reportedly donated silver bricks weighing around 200 kg, and questions are now being raised about their whereabouts. Kushwaha further urged the government to install display boards at the temple showing the daily amount of donations received and details of how the funds are being utilised.
Congress Demands FIR and High Court Probe
Congress leader Rudra Daman Singh demanded immediate legal action, pointing to a pattern of escalating allegations. “After donations were collected for the Ram Temple, allegations of a land scam surfaced. Now, there are allegations of misappropriation involving offerings worth thousands of crores. Despite this, no police case has been registered so far. We demand that an FIR be lodged immediately and that the matter be investigated under the supervision of a sitting High Court judge,” he said.
Congress leader Amit Tyagi called the allegations “extremely serious,” noting the temple’s deep significance for Hindus across India and the world. “Every time a Special Investigation Team is constituted, but what are the outcomes? We demand that the government make public the findings of all SITs that have been constituted so far,” Tyagi said.
Background: How the Row Escalated
The SIT was constituted on 13 June at the direction of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after the donation controversy grew into a political flashpoint. The team was given 15 days to submit its final report. During his visit to Ayodhya on 19 June, Chief Minister Adityanath stated that the SIT probe would “bring out the truth and unmask the irregularities,” and invited devotees to share any evidence or inputs with the team.
This comes amid broader scrutiny of the Ram Mandir Trust’s financial management since the temple’s consecration, with critics noting that a structure of this national significance warrants robust, independent oversight of its donation ecosystem.
What Happens Next
The SIT is expected to submit its final report within a week. Following that, the Uttar Pradesh government is reportedly likely to act against those under the scanner for alleged financial mismanagement and personal misappropriation of cash and offerings. Whether an FIR will be registered — a key demand from the opposition — remains to be seen, and will likely determine whether the controversy remains a political row or becomes a criminal matter.
Point of View
At least for now. Opposition demands for High Court supervision are not merely political posturing; they reflect a genuine accountability gap in how temple trusts of this scale operate without independent financial oversight. The Ram Mandir is not just a religious site — it is a political symbol central to the BJP’s identity, which makes any credible finding of financial misconduct acutely damaging. The SIT’s final report will be the real test of whether this government is willing to act on its own probe or let it quietly dissolve into procedural language.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Ram Mandir donation irregularities about?
The controversy centres on alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings — including cash, gold, jewellery, and reportedly silver bricks — at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. An SIT constituted on 13 June has flagged procedural lapses in cash handling, transportation to the Temple Trust office, and CCTV surveillance in its preliminary report.
What has the SIT found so far in the Ram Mandir probe?
The SIT submitted a preliminary report to UP Home Secretary Sanjay Prasad on 23 June, reportedly identifying lapses at multiple levels in donation management. It scrutinised temple records on gold and jewellery, examined cash-handling processes, and reviewed CCTV footage, also questioning several suspects involved in managing offerings.
Why are SP and Congress demanding an FIR in the Ram Mandir case?
Both parties argue that despite serious allegations of misappropriation involving offerings worth thousands of crores, no police case has been registered. Congress leader Rudra Daman Singh has called for an FIR and a probe supervised by a sitting High Court judge to ensure independent accountability.
What is the current status of the SIT investigation?
The SIT, comprising three senior officials, has submitted its preliminary report and is expected to deliver its final report within a week. After that, the Uttar Pradesh government is reportedly likely to act against those under the scanner for alleged financial mismanagement.
What transparency measures are being demanded for the Ram Mandir?
SP MP Neeraj Kushwaha has called for display boards at the temple showing the daily amount of donations received and how the funds are being utilised. He also urged the government to publicly disclose the SIT’s findings and remove those responsible if wrongdoing is confirmed.
