Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher visited the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on 8 July 2025 to seek blessings ahead of his upcoming film shoot, and weighed in on the ongoing donation theft controversy at the temple, calling the incident 'wrong' while urging that no blame be cast on Sanatan Dharma or Lord Ram.

Kher in Ayodhya for Film Shoot

Kher disclosed that he is set to begin shooting for his forthcoming film 'Shri Ram Bhoomi' in Ayodhya over the next 10 to 12 days. 'Our new film, Shri Ram Bhoomi, is about to start shooting in Ayodhya for the next 10-12 days. I have come here to seek the blessings of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman. I have come here to pray for their health and peace,' he said.

Kher Speaks on the Donation Controversy

Addressing the theft controversy directly, Kher drew a measured analogy. 'If there is a theft in the house, they don't put a chain around the house. What happened was wrong; it shouldn't have happened. But Sanatan and Ramji are from the Dwapar Yuga, from the Yugo Yuga,' he said. He added that those responsible must be apprehended, but emphasised that the faith itself should not be held culpable. 'Those who have done this, they should definitely be caught. But there should be no blame on Sanatan or Ramji,' he said.

The Donation Theft Case: What We Know

On 7 July, Uttar Pradesh police moved court seeking custody of three accused — Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey — from whom substantial cash was recovered. According to police, ₹14,25,000 was seized from Lavkush Mishra, ₹16,82,046 from Anukalp Mishra, and ₹18,07,063 from Karunesh Pandey. Investigators are seeking custody to examine bank records and trace the financial trail of the recovered funds.

Officials noted that a portion of the allegedly stolen money may have been used to purchase goods, and that the full picture of the 'proceeds of crime' can only be established after scrutinising bank records. The father of accused Karunesh Pandey has reportedly claimed that ₹18 lakh was held in his wife's bank account — a claim police intend to probe during the remand period.

SIT Findings: Systemic Lapses Exposed

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government, submitted its preliminary report on Monday, revealing systematic cash theft during the donation-counting process at the temple. The SIT found that CCTV footage from 27 April to 5 June 2026 captured approximately 70 instances of counting staff concealing currency bundles and loose notes in their clothing, shoes, and personal belongings.

Six individuals — Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, and Ramashankar Mishra — have been identified with prima facie evidence of involvement, and cases have been registered against them. The SIT also flagged sweeping procedural failures: no proper frisking at entry and exit points, no biometric attendance, no hundi-wise counting, mixing of donations from different boxes, and unauthorised access to donation box keys — all in violation of a detailed MoU and standard operating procedure signed with the State Bank of India.

Trust officials, including former trustee Dr Anil Mishra and counting in-charge Subhash Srivastava, have been held accountable for oversight failures. Total recoveries from the accused before the probe began stood at approximately ₹78.94 lakh, with bank deposits found to far exceed their modest salaries.

Trust Accepts Resignations, Promises Reform

The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and Anil Mishra on moral grounds. The Trust has committed to implementing institutional reforms, while the SIT is expected to continue its investigation and recommend systemic improvements to ensure greater transparency in donation management going forward.