The expanded scrutiny covers expenditure linked to the consecration ceremony held on January 22, 2024, arrangements connected with the 2025 Maha Kumbh, and the flag-hoisting ceremony of November 2025, when the completion of the temple’s main spire was marked. Investigators are examining whether funds collected from devotees were handled, recorded and spent in line with approved procedures.
The move takes the investigation beyond the immediate allegation of theft from donation counting operations and places the Trust’s wider financial governance under sharper review. The SIT is expected to examine bills, contracts, vendor payments, internal approvals, event management arrangements and audit trails linked to the three high-profile programmes.
The probe has gained political and public significance because the Ram temple project has been among the most closely watched religious infrastructure initiatives in the country. The Trust, formed in 2020 after the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya title dispute, has overseen temple construction, donation campaigns, religious activities and visitor arrangements at a site that draws large numbers of devotees.
The January 2024 consecration ceremony marked the formal installation of Ram Lalla in the sanctum sanctorum and was attended by senior public figures, religious leaders and invited guests. The 2025 Maha Kumbh arrangements brought additional pressure on Ayodhya’s religious infrastructure, as large numbers of pilgrims travelled across Uttar Pradesh during the festival period. The November 2025 flag-hoisting ceremony was projected as a symbolic completion of the main temple structure.
The SIT’s wider line of inquiry follows findings that pointed to weaknesses in donation handling, including gaps in frisking, CCTV monitoring and supervision during counting. Investigators have cited multiple suspected theft instances over several weeks, with accused persons allegedly exploiting weak internal controls. The case has already led to arrests and recovery of cash and valuables from some accused.
One of the accused, Avinash Shukla, has emerged as a key figure in the donation theft case. Investigators have examined alleged personal spending linked to the stolen funds, including expenses said to involve a vehicle purchase and family functions. The allegations remain subject to police verification and judicial scrutiny.
The Trust has faced pressure to explain how offerings and donations were secured, counted and deposited. At a meeting held on July 6, Trust members reviewed the SIT findings and discussed administrative changes. General secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra exited their posts amid the controversy, while the Trust moved towards a more structured administrative system involving a chief executive officer-led arrangement.
Anil Mishra’s supervisory role has come under particular scrutiny in the SIT’s preliminary findings. Investigators have examined whether adequate safeguards existed in the donation counting area and whether warnings or procedural lapses were ignored. The Trust has not been accused as an institution of direct wrongdoing in court, but the inquiry has raised questions over oversight and accountability.
The Trust has disclosed that it received Rs 3,264 crore through donation drives and contributions since its formation, while Rs 2,370 crore was spent on temple construction and related religious activities. Those figures have placed the scale of financial management at the centre of public attention, particularly as donations came from devotees across the country and abroad.
A re-audit of five years of accounts is also being pursued as part of the broader examination. That exercise is expected to review donation box collections, bank deposits, cash handling, event spending, vendor documentation and internal authorisations. Investigators are also likely to compare expenditure records with approvals granted by Trust office-bearers and committees.
The controversy has triggered a political exchange, with opposition parties demanding deeper accountability and Hindu organisations warning against unverified allegations. The Vishva Hindu Parishad has argued that investigators should examine claims made by political figures if they possess evidence of wrongdoing. Congress leaders have countered that scrutiny should focus on those responsible for managing Trust systems during the period when alleged thefts occurred.
