Allegations of massive siphoning of cash, gold & silver offerings (over ₹7 Cr whistleblown, probe expanded to 50+ staff & land deals) led to 8 arrests including Trust general secretary's former driver Tinnu Yadav, CCTV evidence of cash stealing in shoes, and a UP SIT sealed report submitted to the Supreme Court.
Victims / Impact
5 Cr+ Annual Devotees
Budget Impact
₹70+ Cr estimated missing donations under probe
Updates Filed
34 updates
Verified Case Findings
- •Whistleblower Disclosures: Former accounts supervisor Mahipal Singh raised internal alarms over missing offerings, later receiving death threats as former MLA alleged ₹7+ Cr (scaling to tens of crores) missing.
- •CCTV Evidence & 8 Arrests: Video footage at the Pilgrim Facilitation Centre caught 6 note-counters hiding cash bundles in clothes and shoes. Arrested include Tinnu Yadav (former driver of Trust Gen. Secy Champat Rai).
- •UP SIT Probe & 50 Staff Under Scanner: Special Investigation Team expanded probe to nearly 50 note-counting staff, Trust-linked functionaries, and real estate land purchases.
- •Supreme Court Sealed Status Report: On July 19, 2026, UP SIT filed a sealed status report before a Supreme Court 3-judge bench headed by CJI Surya Kant.
- •High Political & Religious Outrage: Protests by SP, Congress, and Shiv Sena UBT ('Ram Raksha' campaign), alongside public letters to PM Modi for CBI intervention.
Uncovered Fraud Networks & Schemes
Pilgrim Facilitation Centre Cash Concealment
India Today / BBC (June 2026)CCTV footage captured note-counters stuffing cash bundles into shoes and clothing during multi-day counting sessions of 35 temple donation boxes handling ₹327 Cr annual income.
Trust Driver & Relatives Financial Channeling
India Today (July 18, 2026)Tinnu Yadav (former driver of Trust Gen. Secy Champat Rai) and nephew Manish Yadav supervised donation counting and allegedly routed stolen cash into land deals and bank FDs (₹80+ Lakh recovered).
Real Estate & Land Transaction Linkages
Daily Pioneer / India Today (July 2026)SIT probe expanded beyond daily note-counters to investigate whether siphoned donation funds were laundered into land acquisitions around Ayodhya.
Case Status
Verified Sources
5 CitedWhistleblower disclosures by former accounts supervisor Mahipal Singh and former MLA claims of missing funds led to 8 arrests and an SIT investigation into donation siphoning at Ayodhya Ram Temple.
In-depth analysis of the moral, cultural, and political fallout of donation siphoning inside India's highest-profile temple, triggering deep distress among devotees.
Special Investigation Team filed a status report in a sealed cover before Supreme Court 3-judge bench headed by CJI Surya Kant following PILs seeking CBI probes and digital hash-sealing.
CCTV footage caught note-counters hiding money in clothes and shoes. Probe expanded to 50+ staff, land purchases, and Tinnu Yadav (former driver of Trust Gen. Secy Champat Rai).
Shiv Sena (UBT) launched 'Ram Raksha' campaign calling for investigation into Trust Treasurer Govind Giri and public accounting of temple funds.