Overview
- Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that reports showed crores of rupees donated to the Ayodhya Ram Temple were missing and asked courts to take suo motu cognisance.
- The temple trust, through general secretary Champat Rai, said periodic internal audits involving trust representatives and the State Bank of India are under way and that no significant irregularity has been detected so far.
- Former Ayodhya MLA Pawan Pandey estimated the shortfall at roughly ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore and demanded an FIR and a full investigation if the claims are substantiated.
- Police and local administration have contacted the trust and are monitoring developments but no formal complaint or FIR has been filed by the trust at this stage.
- The dispute has become a partisan flashpoint with BJP and RSS leaders calling the allegations false and opposition figures pressing for an independent probe, raising the prospect of wider political and reputational consequences ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh polls.