VHP demands FIR, fast-track court over Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust irregularities
Synopsis
VHP International President Aalok Kumar has publicly demanded an FIR, fast-track court, and criminal punishment over alleged financial irregularities at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust — including a disputed ₹18.5 crore land deal and donation funds reportedly missing in the hundreds of crores. With a state SIT already probing the Trust, the VHP's intervention signals that institutional scrutiny alone may not satisfy Hindu organisations watching the temple's stewardship.
Key Takeaways
VHP International President Aalok Kumar on 24 June 2026 demanded an FIR, expedited probe, fast-track court, and punishment for those guilty of irregularities at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust .
Missing donation funds were initially estimated at ₹7–7.5 crore ; claims have reportedly risen to hundreds of crores.
A 2021 land deal saw the Trust reportedly buy a plot for ₹18.5 crore minutes after an associate acquired it for ₹2 crore .
The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member SIT in June 2026 at the Trust's own request to probe the allegations.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was established in 2020 following the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict ; the temple was inaugurated in January 2024 .
The Trust has denied major wrongdoing, citing ongoing audits.
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) International President and Senior Advocate Aalok Kumar on 24 June 2026 issued a public call for immediate legal action over alleged financial irregularities at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya, demanding an FIR, an expedited probe, fast-track court proceedings, and strict punishment for those found guilty. The appeal, posted on Kumar's X handle alongside a widely circulated poster of the Ram Temple, marks the VHP's sharpest public intervention yet in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Trust's finances.
Four Key Demands
Kumar's statement outlined four specific actions he wants authorities to take. First, the immediate filing of an FIR to formally initiate criminal proceedings. Second, acceleration of the existing or required investigation into matters affecting the temple. Third, the constitution or activation of a fast-track court to hear the case on a day-to-day basis. Fourth, that those found guilty be brought to book and made to face punishment. The poster was titled 'In the matter of Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' and concluded with the invocation 'Jay Shri Ram'.
The Allegations Behind the Demand
The controversy centres on the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, constituted in 2020 following the Supreme Court's landmark 2019 verdict that resolved decades of dispute over the site. The Trust was tasked with overseeing the construction and operations of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, inaugurated in January 2024.
Allegations of financial irregularities involving devotees' donations collected through hundis — drop boxes at the temple — have surfaced in waves. Missing funds were initially estimated at ₹7–7.5 crore, but claims have reportedly risen to hundreds of crores, according to former employees and activists. Billions of rupees in cash, gold, silver, and valuables were collected through hundis and donation campaigns, raising questions about accounting and oversight.
A particularly contentious episode involves a 2021 land deal in which the Trust reportedly purchased a plot for ₹18.5 crore — just minutes after an associate had acquired the same land for ₹2 crore. Critics allege this points to overpricing and possible misuse of public donations, though the Trust has denied major wrongdoing, citing ongoing audits.
SIT Already Constituted
In June 2026, fresh allegations from former employees and activists triggered a political storm. The Uttar Pradesh government responded by constituting a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) — notably at the Trust's own request — to probe donation accounting, land transactions, missing valuables, and procedural lapses. The SIT investigation is currently under way.
Despite the SIT's formation, the VHP has pressed for escalation to criminal proceedings and a dedicated judicial forum, arguing that the pace of accountability must match the scale of public faith invested in the temple.
Broader Context
The Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir has drawn tens of millions of pilgrims since its inauguration and is widely regarded as a defining symbol of Hindu cultural identity in contemporary India. VHP leaders have historically maintained that any administrative lapses or financial misconduct at the site must be dealt with firmly. This latest demand reflects the organisation's position that the SIT alone is insufficient and that judicial oversight through a fast-track mechanism is essential to restore public trust.
With the SIT probe ongoing and political pressure mounting, the coming weeks will likely determine whether the Uttar Pradesh government moves toward filing an FIR — a step that would significantly escalate the legal stakes for those associated with the Trust.
Point of View
Which carries far higher stakes for Trust officials. What is notable is that the SIT was constituted at the Trust's own request, suggesting an attempt at controlled accountability; the VHP is now signalling that self-referral is not enough. The ₹18.5 crore land deal allegation — a plot purchased at nearly ten times its price minutes apart — is the kind of specific, documented claim that is difficult to dismiss with audit-speak. If the SIT's findings are inconclusive or suppressed, the credibility of the temple's stewardship among its own core constituency will take a lasting hit.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the VHP demanded regarding the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust?
The VHP's International President Aalok Kumar has demanded the immediate filing of an FIR, an expedited investigation, constitution of a fast-track court for day-to-day hearings, and strict punishment for those found guilty of irregularities at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The demands were made via a public post on his X handle on 24 June 2026.
What are the alleged financial irregularities at the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust?
Allegations include missing donation funds from temple hundis — initially estimated at ₹7–7.5 crore but reportedly claimed to be in the hundreds of crores — and a controversial 2021 land deal where the Trust reportedly purchased a plot for ₹18.5 crore just minutes after an associate bought it for ₹2 crore. Former employees and activists have raised these concerns, which the Trust has denied, citing ongoing audits.
What is the SIT probing in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir case?
The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) in June 2026, at the Trust's own request, to probe donation accounting, land transactions, missing valuables, and procedural lapses. The SIT investigation is currently ongoing.
Who manages the Ayodhya Ram Mandir and when was the Trust formed?
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was established in 2020 by the Centre following the Supreme Court's landmark 2019 verdict that resolved the decades-long Ayodhya dispute. The Trust oversees the construction and operations of the Ram Mandir, which was inaugurated in January 2024.
Why is the VHP demanding a fast-track court instead of relying on the SIT?
The VHP argues that the scale of alleged financial misconduct and the public faith invested in the temple require judicial oversight beyond an administrative investigation. A fast-track court would ensure day-to-day hearings and legally binding accountability, which the VHP contends the SIT process alone cannot guarantee.
