The Indian National Congress has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The party has expressed concerns over a state-led inquiry that previously cleared senior trust officials, citing a lack of transparency and questions regarding evidence handling. The opposition is now pushing for federal agency intervention to ensure accountability.
The Indian National Congress has formally called for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into allegations of financial irregularities and donation theft within the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. This demand follows persistent questions from the opposition party regarding the administration of funds at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the sufficiency of existing investigative processes.
The controversy centres on events allegedly captured on video on June 4, 2026, which purportedly showed staff members hiding cash bundles during donation counting sessions. Following these reports, the Uttar Pradesh government initiated an investigation through a special team. By August 2026, this state-led inquiry submitted a report that exonerated senior trust officials, including Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, concluding that there was no involvement from the leadership tier.
However, the Congress leadership has rejected these findings, characterizing the internal investigation as lacking credibility and administrative rigour. Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted that the 21-day delay in registering an initial FIR raised significant doubts about the sincerity of the investigative efforts. The party argues that the process appeared focused on managing public perception rather than uncovering the full scale of the alleged misappropriation.
Central to the opposition’s argument is the question of financial oversight. Congress representatives have pointed to a lack of rigorous scrutiny regarding the role of the trust’s treasurer, Govind Giri, who maintains oversight responsibility for fund inflows and outflows. By questioning the internal accountability mechanisms, the party is advocating for a more transparent disclosure of all donation records to restore public confidence in the institution.
Beyond calling for judicial oversight, the opposition is urging federal agencies, specifically the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation, to intervene in the matter. The party contends that the local investigation’s outcome was inherently biased, given the political context and the proximity to upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The demand for central agency involvement underscores the party's push for administrative integrity in managing large-scale religious and public donations.
For observers and the public, the key monitorable remains whether higher judicial or federal authorities will initiate a fresh review of the evidence. The case highlights the importance of rigorous transparency in the governance of high-value trusts, particularly when questions of financial handling and internal oversight emerge.