Loading dispatches...
← Return to Newsroomgeneral
Congress set to stall House over Ram temple donation scam
Breaking
Trump's comments on a united Ireland may have targeted audience across the Atlantic
Congress set to stall House over Ram temple donation scam The Times of India
Trustee Anil Mishra (left) and general secretary Champat Rai (right) are under pressure amid the controversy. (Express photo)The recovery of cash allegedly stolen from the Ram Temple’s donation boxes was made by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust from the accused even before the FIR in the matter was registered by Ayodhya police, sources said, citing a letter by the then Trust general secretary Champat Rai. In the letter, Rai claimed seizure of cash before the matter came into public domain, distancing himself from the Trust’s responsibilities pending an inquiry after the controversy over the alleged theft of donations erupted, they added.According to the Ayodhya police, cash to the tune of nearly Rs 80 lakh has been recovered from the accused. Sources familiar with the development said Rai in his letter had also stated that the accused had admitted to the alleged theft and that the Trust itself had requested the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is now probing the case. The letter was submitted two days after the FIR was filed in the matter on June 25. The Trust treated the communication as his resignation which was accepted in a meeting on July 6. Rai in the letter also mentioned that the alleged theft came to light on the night of June 4, when a trustee was informed during the counting process that five to six youths had stolen cash from donation boxes, the sources said. CCTV footage was scanned the next morning and some of the suspects were identified, they said. The letter states that instead of immediately lodging an FIR, the Trust first questioned the suspects.Story continues below this ad He claimed that the accused and their family members returned the cash to the Trust by June 8 and submitted written statements admitting their involvement in the alleged theft. As the issue later began attracting public attention, the Trust decided that an independent investigation was necessary and formally requested the state government to constitute an SIT. Meanwhile, the temple Trust has begun preparations for the upcoming Sawan month, during which it expects a significant rise in the footfall of devotees. The temple is currently witnessing a daily footfall of nearly 80,000-1 lakh devotees, which is expected to double during the Sawan month, particularly on Mondays, it is learnt. Also, it has been decided that crowd management measures will be implemented depending on the daily footfall. Access to various temples within the Ram Mandir complex and to the first floor, where the Ram Darbar is located, may be regulated or temporarily restricted during periods of heavy rush, considering the limited space in these areas. Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
New DelhiJul 30, 2026 12:16 AM IST WITH THE Bill seeking stringent measures to prevent exam paper leaks getting passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the Opposition is learnt to be readying a strategy to keep the pressure on the government by shifting its focus on the alleged donation theft at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, while also continuing to attack Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the police action against protesting students on July 20. While the Samajwadi Party is all set to raise the alleged theft of donations at Ayodhya Ram Temple on the floor of the House to attack the BJP, Congress, too, does not want to let the momentum weaken and will continue to target Home Minister Shah over the police action on the protesting students. Sources, however, said that leaders from both sides are trying to create a consensus on issues to be taken on priority.The Congress-led Opposition, which believes that it has succeeded in cornering the government over the issue of police action on the students, appeared buoyed from the Lok Sabha proceedings on Wednesday, and is keen to keep the momentum. “The Leader of Opposition has successfully raised the issue related to Home Minister’s accountability during the debate today. Congress wants to continue with the same on Thursday in the Lok Sabha,” said a senior Congress leader. “The LoP was not allowed to complete. We cannot leave the issue there.” He, however, said, “Our strategy meeting in the morning will take a call on how we have to prioritise these issues. The decision will be a collective one.” Sources in the Congress said the party’s decision to keep the momentum on students’ issues would “be sensible politically”. For many party leaders, who admitted that no opposition party could take advantage of the “anti-BJP sentiments” created out of the students protests, raising the issue of police action against the protesters could “help to gain some ground”. “Our assessment is that Rahul Gandhi seeking answers from the Home Minister for the brutal attack on students – which included the alleged use of pellet guns – will help keep the heat on the government for holding the relevant officials accountable,” said a Congress MP. “We have more than 100 MPs, including smaller allies like IUML and RSP, who think that it is very important.”Story continues below this ad Sources said that during the meeting in Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge’s chamber on Wednesday morning, all Opposition parties, including the Congress, SP and the TMC, agreed that the focus of the Opposition must now shift to the Ram Temple issue with elections in Uttar Pradesh early next year. The SP has over the last few days been asking its allies to shift the focus from the paper leaks issue to the Ram Temple and has been “waiting patiently”, said sources. “The SP has been very patient with us and has been waiting for the Ram Temple donation theft to come to the centre of the Opposition’s agenda. Now that they have been waiting for the last few days, we have decided it is time to shift the focus of the Opposition to the issue,” said a source present at the meeting on Wednesday. A source in the SP said the Congress and other allies have agreed to raise the issue of Ram Temple in the House on Thursday. “There is broad consensus among us. We are all united. We will take a final call on our strategy tomorrow. But Ram Temple has to be taken up in the Lok Sabha and we have got our allies on board for that,” said the source.Story continues below this ad While the Lok Sabha is expected to see the Opposition demanding a discussion on the Ram Temple issue, the Rajya Sabha on Thursday is expected to take up the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. Asad Rehman is with the national bureau of The Indian Express and covers politics and policy focusing on religious minorities in India. A journalist for over eight years, Rehman moved to this role after covering Uttar Pradesh for five years
Discussion (0)