FIR filed in Ram Mandir fund embezzlement case

Sources claim the FIR was registered against the accused persons on the orders of CM Yogi Adityanath

The Uttar Pradesh police has filed an FIR against eight people for allegedly misusing donations and offerings at the Ram Mandir, following a complaint from Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The complaint, filed at the Ram Janmbhoomi police station, came after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its preliminary report on June 23.

Sources said the FIR was registered against the accused persons on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The FIR lists Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu or Tinu Yadav, who is a close aide of Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and reportedly had the keys to the donation boxes. Others named include Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Manish Yadav, Rama Shankar Mishra and Subhash Srivastava. They face charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and embezzlement. The FIR contains sections 306/316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61, and Prevention of Corruption Act 3(5).

The interim report submitted by the SIT to CM Yogi has made tough recommendations. As a result, the FIR has been registered under non-bailable sections of the BNS. There are clear instructions from the CM not to spare anybody, and many arrests are expected in the days to come, the sources added.

Senior Trust officials, such as Champat Rai, have not been named in the FIR. The SIT’s preliminary report pointed out major problems in the system. The three-member SIT, led by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, with IG (Lucknow range) Kiran S. and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan, was set up on June 13 after the Trust requested an investigation over public claims of missing donations worth several crores.

In its preliminary report to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, the SIT found serious problems with how cash was handled, how employees were hired and checked, how CCTV was used, and how offerings were tracked from the temple donation boxes to the Trust office and banks.

The report said that a private agency hired by SBI to count money used workers recommended by Trust associates, but there were insufficient checks on who entered or left the work areas. It also found problems in how gold, silver, and other valuables from devotees were recorded and tracked. The report noted that some sevadars and employees saw their assets grow quickly after the temple’s consecration in January 2024.

It is alleged that embezzlement went on for years, with staff staying quiet because influential people were involved. The SIT named 17 people as accused, including some senior Trust officials. It recommended filing FIRs, reorganising the Trust, and appointing a senior administrator. The investigation now also covers land deals and the purchase of construction materials. The Trust’s decision to file the FIR follows the SIT’s findings.

Sources say the complaint was based on the preliminary report and internal findings. The SIT has reportedly instructed key Trust functionaries not to leave the city. The Trust had initially maintained that internal audits were underway and sought the independent SIT probe to establish facts and counter what it described as attempts to tarnish the temple’s image. The development has intensified political debate.

The Trust and the UP government have said that the investigation began internally to ensure accountability. However, opposition parties want the full SIT report, all financial records, CCTV footage, and bank statements to be made public. Some are asking for a CBI or court-monitored investigation. The SIT report and the FIR highlight ongoing concerns about how major religious institutions manage large public donations.

Since the preliminary findings show both systemic problems and individual responsibility, more action is expected in the coming weeks, including possible arrests and a detailed final report. The Ram Mandir, consecrated in January 2024, attracts millions of devotees.

The Trust says it is committed to transparency and to protecting offerings made in faith.