Ayodhya: The controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in donations received at the Ram Temple has intensified after investigators reportedly found that around 60 kilograms of silver bars donated during the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony are missing from official records. The development has added a fresh dimension to the ongoing probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government.
The silver bars were reportedly donated during the historic Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla and were believed to have been intended for temple-related religious works. However, investigators are said to have found no clear documentation showing where the silver was stored, whether it was formally entered into inventory records, or how it was ultimately utilized.
Missing Silver Raises New Questions
According to sources familiar with the investigation, donor representatives have claimed that the silver was formally handed over to temple authorities and that acknowledgment records exist. Yet, the silver itself has allegedly not been traced in the records examined so far.
Ram Janma Bhoomi Temple faces a scandal involving alleged financial irregularities, including theft from donation boxes and tampering with CCTV footage
Investigations are ongoing, raising questions about trust and accountability in temple management#TheRightStand |… pic.twitter.com/Pe5o2mqQte
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The SIT is now scrutinizing donation registers, inventory records, CCTV footage, financial transactions, and other documents to establish a complete chain of custody for valuables received by the temple trust. Officials are also questioning individuals associated with the collection, counting, documentation, and storage of donations.
Cash Recovery From Temple Employee’s Residence
The probe gained momentum earlier this month when Uttar Pradesh Police detained Lavkush Mishra, an employee associated with the temple’s donation-counting department, over allegations of systematic undercounting of donations.
During searches conducted at Mishra’s residence in the Rudauli area of Ayodhya district, investigators reportedly recovered approximately ₹10 lakh to ₹12 lakh in cash. According to media reports, part of the money was found inside a cupboard, while the remaining amount was allegedly concealed beneath a pile of cow dung. The source of the recovered cash remains under investigation, and authorities have not yet linked it conclusively to temple donations.
Police have recovered Rs 10 to 12 lakh in cash from the Rudauli home of Lavkush Mishra, a temple employee accused in the Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case in Ayodhya. The raid follows growing allegations that staff systematically undercounted donation money during cash… pic.twitter.com/K7BbdK8dtG
— G K Gourav (@GouravGKRepots) June 13, 2026
Investigators are also examining reports that certain employees involved in the donation-counting process accumulated assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. These claims are currently being verified as part of the SIT inquiry.
Wider Allegations Under Examination
The missing silver bars are reportedly among several allegations currently being examined by investigators. Complaints have also been raised regarding the alleged disappearance or improper accounting of other valuables, including gold ornaments, precious metals, and religious artifacts donated by devotees.
Some whistleblower allegations have claimed that discrepancies may have existed in the recording and accounting of donations over a prolonged period. Investigators are examining these claims along with records maintained by the trust and agencies involved in donation management.
Political Storm Over Temple Donations
The issue has triggered a political debate, with opposition leaders demanding greater transparency in the handling of donations received by one of India’s most prominent religious institutions. Several political figures have called for independent audits and public disclosure of donation records.
Meanwhile, the temple trust has maintained that all allegations are being examined through the proper channels and has expressed support for a thorough investigation to establish the facts.
CM Yogi Backs Investigation
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has defended the SIT probe, stating that the investigation was launched to verify allegations and ensure accountability. He has urged the public not to draw conclusions before the inquiry is completed.
The three-member SIT is examining the handling of cash donations, precious metals, inventory management systems, and internal procedures related to the recording and storage of offerings received at the temple.
No Findings of Guilt Yet
Officials have emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that no individual or organization has been found guilty of wrongdoing. The recovery of cash, allegations of missing silver, and claims regarding donation management are all currently under scrutiny.
The SIT’s findings are expected to determine whether the reported discrepancies resulted from documentation lapses, procedural irregularities, mismanagement, or any criminal wrongdoing. Until then, authorities maintain that all allegations remain unproven and subject to investigation.
