India Investigates Alleged Embezzlement at Ram Mandir Temple
AFP
New Delhi: Indian authorities have launched an investigation into allegations of financial irregularities at the Ram Mandir temple in northern India, a site closely associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist agenda.
The temple, located in Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh, was inaugurated by Modi in 2024 on land where the historic Babri Mosque stood before it was demolished by Hindu activists in 1992.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Friday that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to examine claims that donations made by devotees were misappropriated.
Speaking at a public event, Adityanath said the inquiry was initiated following recommendations from the trust responsible for managing the temple.
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“We have constituted an SIT to investigate the matter. Anyone possessing documentary evidence should submit it to the investigation team,” he said.
While officials have not disclosed the exact scale of the alleged misconduct, opposition parties and several media reports suggest the amount involved could exceed $20 million.
The Ram Mandir project reportedly cost around $240 million to complete, with supporters saying the entire amount was raised through public donations.
According to reports, the temple receives significant daily contributions from worshippers, averaging approximately $10,000 per day and reaching as much as $60,000 during major religious occasions.
Many Hindus believe that Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya thousands of years ago and regard the site as his birthplace. They contend that the Babri Mosque, built during the 16th century under Mughal rule, stood on that sacred location.
The dispute over the site became a major political issue in India, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) playing a key role in mobilizing support for the temple movement.
The demolition of the mosque in 1992 marked a turning point in Indian politics and contributed significantly to the BJP’s rise as a dominant political force, eventually helping propel Narendra Modi to national leadership.
