Yogi vows no guilty will be spared in Ram Temple donation row, targets Kejriwal
Synopsis
Eight people arrested after an SIT report on alleged embezzlement at the Ram Temple — and Yogi Adityanath used a ₹456 crore event in Deoria to do double duty: reassure devotees that justice is coming and land a pointed 'gentleman from Delhi' jab at Arvind Kejriwal, who had turned up in Ayodhya the same day demanding accountability.
Key Takeaways
UP CM Yogi Adityanath vowed on 26 June that no guilty party in the Ram Temple donation row would be spared.
An SIT preliminary report triggered the registration of a case against 8 individuals , including cash-counting staff and former banking employees, all of whom were arrested.
Yogi Adityanath made the remarks while launching ₹456 crore worth of projects in Deoria .
Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal visited Ayodhya on the same day, alleging that powerful figures were being shielded; Yogi responded with a sharp 'gentleman from Delhi' jibe.
The CM called out the Samajwadi Party and Congress for 'blowing the issue out of proportion' and urged those with evidence to approach the SIT directly.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday, 26 June declared that no individual found guilty in the Ram Temple donation row would escape justice, while also taking a pointed swipe at former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's visit to Ayodhya amid the ongoing controversy over alleged embezzlement of devotees' offerings at the temple.
SIT Report Triggers Arrests
Addressing a public gathering in Deoria during the launch of projects worth ₹456 crore, Yogi Adityanath said swift action had followed the submission of the Special Investigation Team (SIT)'s preliminary report. A case was registered against eight individuals — including cash-counting staff and former banking employees — on Thursday evening, and all eight were subsequently arrested. The Chief Minister noted that he had signalled during his previous visit to Ayodhya on 19 June that action would follow investigation, and that the 'process of punishment' had now begun.
The 'Gentleman from Delhi' Jibe
Kejriwal's visit to the Ram Temple and Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya on Friday drew a sharp response from Yogi Adityanath. 'A gentleman from Delhi has come to Ayodhya today. The people of Delhi gave him opportunities for years, yet he gave the capital nothing but corruption. Had he treated Delhi with the same fairness that the double-engine BJP government has shown towards Ayodhya, Delhi too would have emerged as a new symbol of development, just like Ayodhya Dham,' the Chief Minister said. Kejriwal, during his visit, alleged that powerful individuals were being shielded while lower-level officials were being made scapegoats — a charge the state government has not directly addressed.
Government Pushes Back on Opposition
Yogi Adityanath also criticised the broader Opposition, accusing it of 'blowing the issue out of proportion' and cautioning against making baseless allegations that could hurt public sentiments associated with Lord Ram and Ayodhya. 'The government will not spare any guilty party, but hurting public sentiments by making allegations without facts is inappropriate,' he said. He urged anyone with concrete evidence to submit it directly to the SIT rather than engaging in public rhetoric.
SP and Congress in the Crosshairs
Targeting the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Indian National Congress, Yogi Adityanath said those raising questions today in the name of Ayodhya and Lord Ram were the same political forces that had historically denied the existence of Lord Ram and opposed the construction of the temple at Ram Janmabhoomi. The remarks are likely to deepen the political fault lines around the temple town ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
What Comes Next
The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government's intent is 'absolutely clear' and that the investigation is proceeding impartially. Strict legal action, he assured, will follow against all those found culpable once the SIT concludes its work. The case now centres on whether the probe will extend beyond the eight arrested to any higher-level figures — a question the Opposition has made central to its political offensive.
Point of View
SIT accountability, and a pre-emptive strike against Kejriwal — is textbook damage control for a controversy that strikes at the credibility of the Ram Temple project itself. The real test is whether the probe stops at the eight arrested or reaches any higher-level figures, as the Opposition alleges. Framing the Opposition as historically anti-Ram is a politically effective deflection, but it does not answer the question Kejriwal actually raised: who, above the cash counters, knew? The SIT's final report will determine whether this becomes a story of institutional accountability or political theatre.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ram Temple donation row about?
The Ram Temple donation row involves alleged embezzlement of devotees' offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the matter, and its preliminary report led to the arrest of eight individuals, including cash-counting staff and former banking employees.
Who has been arrested in the Ram Temple donation case?
Eight individuals were arrested following the SIT's preliminary report submitted ahead of 26 June 2025. Those arrested include cash-counting staff and former banking employees linked to the alleged embezzlement of temple donations.
Why did Arvind Kejriwal visit Ayodhya?
Arvind Kejriwal visited the Ram Temple and Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya on 26 June to demand action in the donation row. He alleged that powerful and influential individuals were being shielded while lower-level officials were being made scapegoats.
What did CM Yogi Adityanath say about Kejriwal's Ayodhya visit?
Yogi Adityanath took a pointed swipe, calling Kejriwal 'a gentleman from Delhi' and saying that despite years of opportunity, Kejriwal had given Delhi 'nothing but corruption'. He contrasted this with what he described as the BJP government's development of Ayodhya.
What is the current status of the SIT investigation?
The SIT has submitted a preliminary report, which triggered the first round of arrests. CM Yogi Adityanath has stated that the investigation is proceeding impartially and that strict legal action will follow against all individuals found guilty once the probe is complete.
