Ram Temple donation scam: Congress demands high-level probe

Lucknow: The Congress has intensified its attack on the BJP over the alleged donation scam at the Ram Temple, pointing out that the reported embezzlement and financial irregularities have betrayed the faith of millions of devotees and raised serious questions about the temple's administration.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi questioned whether lower-level employees alone could have disabled CCTV cameras and manipulated donations worth crores of rupees, suggesting that the scale of the alleged fraud pointed to the possibility of a larger conspiracy. The party maintained that fixing responsibility solely on junior staff appeared to be an attempt to shield those occupying higher positions.

AICC leader Rajeev Shukla alleged that the controversy extended beyond former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and indicated the involvement of influential figures. He accused the BJP of exploiting the temple politically while failing to safeguard devotees' contributions and demanded that the alleged conspiracy be investigated independently under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

The Congress also called for the dissolution of the existing temple trust and urged that its administration be entrusted to religious leaders, including Shankaracharyas.

The political attack comes after Uttar Pradesh Police arrested eight persons in connection with the alleged donation scam and seized Rs 80 lakh. Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra resigned on Friday, taking moral responsibility amid the controversy.

The party further alleged that investigators are examining only irregularities between April 2025 and February 2026, leaving questions over the full extent of missing cash, gold and silver unanswered. It claimed that the 70 thefts reported within 42 days represented only a fraction of the alleged financial irregularities and demanded that the alleged masterminds be identified.