Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who carved the revered Ram Lalla idol installed at the Ayodhya Ram temple, has expressed deep anguish over reports of embezzlement of crores worth of cash and jewellery donations by temple staff. Speaking on 26 June, Yogiraj said the alleged theft was a betrayal of the faith of devotees across India and abroad who had offered their hard-earned money to Lord Ram.

Sculptor's Anguish Over Devotees' Betrayed Faith

“As a devotee of Lord Ram, I feel this is deeply painful because devotees across the globe donate their hard-earned money to the temple with faith, love, and devotion, believing they are making offerings for Ram Lalla,” Yogiraj said. He warned that the alleged theft could shake the confidence of crores of Ram devotees and prompt them to rethink their trust in the temple's administration.

Yogiraj, who along with his team spent approximately seven to eight months in Ayodhya sculpting the idol — striving to capture the delicate balance of divinity and childlike innocence — described the unfolding events as deeply distressing on a personal level.

Yogiraj Defends Temple Trust, Calls Champat Rai a Symbol of Integrity

Despite his outrage at the alleged misconduct by certain staff members, Yogiraj stood firmly behind the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust officials. He reserved particular praise for Trust general secretary Champat Rai, calling him a “symbol of simplicity, hard work, and dedication.”

“They maintained the highest level of transparency and accountability in their conduct, and it’s beyond belief to see things panning out the way they have in the past few days,” he added. Yogiraj noted that during his eight to nine months of association with the Trust, he had consistently observed members act with morality and uprightness, reaching decisions only after taking all stakeholders into confidence.

SIT Probe and Champat Rai's Role

Yogiraj highlighted that it was Champat Rai himself who approached Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to initiate a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into irregularities in the Chadhava (donation) collection. “This shows his utmost devotion to Lord Ram and maintaining the highest moral conduct,” Yogiraj said, also referencing reported resignations by Rai and other trustees on moral grounds.

He acknowledged that while it was hard to believe such irregularities occurred under the Trust’s watch, the proactive move to seek an SIT inquiry reflected the leadership’s commitment to accountability. This comes amid a widening investigation into how temple donation management allegedly became a vehicle for misappropriation as devotee footfall expanded dramatically after the temple’s consecration.

Demand for Exemplary Punishment

Yogiraj called for strict and swift action against all those involved in the alleged theft. “With the passage of time and vast expansion in devotees’ turnout at the temple, some miscreants milked the opportunity to their advantage. But, I firmly believe that all those who colluded to steal the temple’s money will be booked and brought to justice soon,” he said.

As the SIT investigation proceeds, the case has drawn national attention to the governance of one of India’s most prominent religious sites — and to the urgent need for transparent, auditable donation management systems at large temples.