Not only allegations of embezzlement of donation funds, but also questions had been raised by the opposition and the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) over the alleged disappearance of a large quantity of silver bars and bricks donated to the Ram Mandir. This included a 4-kg silver brick reportedly gifted by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray during the construction phase. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the matter has rejected claims that silver worth around 200 kg was stolen.
So what actually happened to the silver bricks and bars? Was the silver also part of the alleged “chanda chori”? Early in the investigation, the SIT reportedly struggled to establish a clear trace of the donated silver, with sources indicating missing receipt records and uncertainty over storage details.
What the SIT probe found on silver bricks
As the investigation progressed, the SIT concluded that most of the donated silver bricks had been properly accounted for and were not missing. According to temple records, several silver bricks were officially processed rather than stored.
Eight silver bricks listed under serial number 96 were reportedly sent for melting. Another consignment was sent to the Security Printing and Minting Corporation under the Finance Ministry, which produces coins. Investigators also found documentation bearing signatures of officials from both the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the minting corporation.
The issue gained attention after IBJA president Anurag Rastogi raised concerns, claiming that around 60 kg of silver bars contributed by jewellers across India had been donated to the temple. He also said a 3-kg silver lamp donated by him and his wife could not be traced in temple records or physical premises.
Rastogi stated that the silver items were donated for use during the foundation ceremony but were not visible at the time of the bhoomi pujan, and later alleged that their current status was unclear.
Questions were also raised by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut regarding the 4-kg silver brick donated by his party, along with claims of a ₹1 crore donation, and the lack of clear acknowledgment or receipts from the trust.
Silver donations recorded in official phases
During the SIT probe, officials examined temple records and statements from priests and staff overseeing offerings. They found that silver donations were received in two documented phases.
Records show that 38 kg of silver was received between July 21 and July 28, 2020, followed by another 25.576 kg of silver bricks received on July 29, 2020.
Based on these findings, the SIT concluded that the silver bars and bricks in question were not stolen or missing, but had been recorded and processed as per official procedures.
Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered in the broader donation irregularities case, with allegations of ₹7–7.5 crore being misappropriated. Eight people have been arrested so far, including individuals linked to the trust administration, and the investigation continues, with senior officials also coming under scrutiny following recent resignations.
