Ayodhya Police Arrests Suspect in Ram Temple Embezzlement Case

The Ayodhya police have arrested Ram Shankar Yadav in connection with a significant embezzlement case involving donations to the Ram Temple. Following a complaint lodged by a trust member, the police have initiated an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds. A Special Investigation Team has been formed to delve deeper into the claims, which suggest that millions were misappropriated. The Chief Minister has criticized the opposition's response to the allegations, asserting a commitment to uphold public faith. This unfolding situation raises questions about the integrity of temple management and the political implications surrounding it.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 26, 2026, 16:15 IST

Arrest in Ram Temple Fund Misappropriation

The Ayodhya police have detained Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinu Yadav, in connection with allegations of embezzlement at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. This arrest followed the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station regarding significant misappropriation of donated funds. According to police reports, the FIR was lodged on June 25, initiated by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The FIR accuses several employees involved in the counting of offerings within the temple premises of engaging in a criminal conspiracy. The complaint alleges systematic theft, embezzlement, and deliberate manipulation of funds donated by devotees. Nine individuals have been named as primary suspects, along with several unidentified accomplices.

Details of the Accused

The named suspects include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, Ramashankar Yadav (Tinu), and Ashutosh Tiwari. Police officials have confirmed that they have completed the initial paperwork and provided the complainant with a computer-generated copy of the FIR. Senior district officials were informed of the case registration via wireless communication. The investigation into the alleged financial irregularities has been assigned to the Circle Officer (CO) of Ayodhya. This action follows allegations made by former SP MLA Pawan Pandey, who claimed that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore had been embezzled from the donations received for the Ram temple.

Formation of Special Investigation Team

In response to these allegations, the state government established a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 14 at the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to investigate the purported scam. Earlier in the day, Champat Rai, the General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, and trustee Anil Mishra resigned, taking moral responsibility for the alleged theft of temple funds.

Political Reactions

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sharply criticized the opposition's stance on the alleged embezzlement case. He accused those who previously opposed the temple's construction of now exploiting the issue for political gain. Speaking at a public meeting in Deoria, following the initial FIR based on the SIT's preliminary report, the Chief Minister stated that the state government would adopt a "zero-tolerance" policy against those attempting to undermine public faith. He was addressing the inauguration and foundation-laying ceremony of 106 development projects costing over ₹456 crore.

Allegations Against Detractors

Discussing those questioning matters related to Lord Ram and Ayodhya, Adityanath alleged that those now raising objections had previously denied the existence of Lord Ram and the significance of Ayodhya.