Raj Thackeray Alleges Corruption in Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple

In a recent event, Raj Thackeray, the MNS leader, alleged that ₹18 crores are stolen each year from Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple, raising concerns about corruption in religious institutions. He also claimed that ₹1,400 crores have been misappropriated from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, calling for Prime Minister Modi to address these issues. Thackeray highlighted the vigilance of temple trustees that led to the arrest of employees involved in theft. The Siddhivinayak Temple Trust confirmed the arrests and noted an increase in donations following the incident. Discover more about these serious allegations and the responses from temple authorities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 2, 2026, 07:09 IST

Allegations of Theft at Siddhivinayak Temple

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Mumbai, August 1 - Raj Thackeray, the leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), made a startling claim on Saturday at a student organization event, stating that approximately ₹18 crores are stolen annually from the renowned Siddhivinayak Temple. He expressed concern that even temples are not safe from corruption. Thackeray also alleged that ₹1,400 crores have been misappropriated from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address these issues.

Thackeray pointed out that disillusioned youth visit temples, yet these places of worship are not free from corruption. While reading a letter addressed to Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from eight trustees, he mentioned that some employees involved in stealing from the donation box at Siddhivinayak Temple were apprehended due to the vigilance of the trustees. He noted that prior to these thefts being uncovered, the weekly donations at the temple were less than ₹50 lakhs, but following the incident, the amount surged to ₹1.5 crores.

Thackeray asserted, “Every year, ₹18 crores are stolen.” Meanwhile, Sada Sarvankar, the president of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and a leader from Shinde's faction of Shiv Sena, informed reporters that nine employees have been arrested in connection with this matter. He added, “We have filed cases wherever necessary.” Sarvankar attributed the increase in donations to the efforts made by the trustees.