Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday made a major allegation, claiming that money from the Ram Mandir donation fund was allegedly used to engineer political defections in parties such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena (UBT).
He alleged that around ₹2,000 crore from the donation fund was used to lure MLAs and MPs.
The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, built on the site where the 16th-century Babri Masjid once stood before it was demolished by Hindu kar sevaks in 1992, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024. Spread over 2.7 acres, the three-storey temple has become one of India's most prominent pilgrimage centres, attracting an estimated 50 million visitors annually.
Last week, allegations regarding the handling of cash, gold, silver, jewellery and other valuables donated by devotees triggered a political controversy. The Uttar Pradesh government subsequently constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. However, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the temple, has denied any wrongdoing.
Addressing a press conference, Raut said, "Around ₹2,000 crore from the donation box has gone missing. The SIT must investigate whether this money was used to buy MLAs and MPs from the TMC and Shiv Sena (UBT)."
He further alleged that the money had been used to split political parties and influence elections.
"Where has the money gone? The ₹2,000 crore has entered politics and elections. These are only preliminary figures mentioned by the SIT," Raut claimed.
Raut also alleged that Shiv Sena (UBT) had donated ₹1 crore to the Shri Ram Mandir Trust along with more than 25 kg of silver bricks. "We donated a cheque of ₹1 crore and more than 25 kg of silver bricks to the trust, but we never received a receipt. Most of the missing valuables are silver items," he alleged.
He further claimed that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and several BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh were being backed despite the allegations.
Till now, eight people have been arrested in connection with the case, and the latest development, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra submitted their resignations on Friday, taking moral responsibility for the matter.
