A fresh political controversy has erupted over the alleged theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an independent inquiry into the financial affairs of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Congress has also demanded that the trust's accounts be made public so devotees can know how their contributions have been utilized.

The letter, written on Saturday and made public on Sunday, comes amid an ongoing police investigation into the alleged embezzlement of temple offerings and increasing political confrontation over the issue.

Congress Demands Transparency and Accountability

In their letter, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge reminded the Prime Minister that the Ram Mandir Trust was constituted following his announcement in Parliament and that its members were appointed by the Central Government.

The Congress leaders alleged that many members of the trust are associated with organizations linked to the RSS and VHP, while the former General Secretary was considered close to the Prime Minister.

The letter stated that the Prime Minister's silence over the allegations was "unacceptable" and argued that ensuring accountability was his constitutional and moral responsibility. They demanded an independent investigation, complete disclosure of the trust's financial records, and strict action against anyone found responsible after the probe.

Main Accused Tinnu Faces Fresh Police Questioning

Meanwhile, police continued questioning the main accused, Ramashankar Yadav alias 'Tinnu', and his nephew Manish, whose police custody entered its final day on Sunday.

Investigators had taken both accused from the district jail on a 39-hour remand on Saturday morning. According to police sources, they remained at the Special Operations Group (SOG) office throughout the interrogation and were not taken to any other location during the remand period.

Tinnu reportedly supervised the Ram Mandir's donation boxes and was considered a close aide of former trust General Secretary Champat Rai, while Manish was allegedly involved in counting the offerings.

Police have recovered ₹1 lakh from Tinnu's residence and ₹2 lakh from Manish's house. Earlier, six other suspects had also been questioned in connection with the alleged financial irregularities.

Ram Temple Trust Meeting Scheduled for July 22

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will hold a crucial meeting in Ayodhya on 22 July, where several important issues are expected to be discussed.

The agenda includes reviewing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, filling vacant positions within the trust, and appointing a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Around 5,000 applications have reportedly been received for the CEO post.

The trust has maintained that conclusions should not be drawn before the investigation is completed. It has stated that all financial records are audited annually by an independent chartered accountancy firm and that donation details can be accessed by devotees through the prescribed process.

Trust Says ₹3,264 Crore Received in Donations

According to the trust, it has received ₹3,264 crore through the Nidhi Samarpan campaign and corpus donations since its formation.

Of this amount:

• ₹2,370 crore has been spent on temple construction and related development works.
• ₹582 crore has been received as offerings from devotees until 31 March 2026.
• ₹391 crore has been utilized for temple management and operational expenses, while the remaining funds have been deposited in bank accounts.

Following the preliminary findings of the SIT, former General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Dr. Anil Mishra resigned, taking moral responsibility. The trust accepted their resignations while emphasizing that legal proceedings must conclude before assigning criminal liability.

Political Row Intensifies

The controversy has triggered sharp political reactions across parties. Samajwadi Party leaders questioned remarks made by Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, while several religious leaders have supported a thorough investigation into the alleged financial irregularities.

With Parliament's Monsoon Session beginning shortly and the Ram Temple Trust meeting scheduled this week, the issue is expected to remain at the centre of political debate, as opposition parties continue to demand greater transparency and accountability over one of India's most significant religious institutions.