Former IAS officer S. Lakshminarayanan has alleged that a gold-plated copy of the Ramcharitmanas, which he claims is worth around ₹5 crore, has been removed from the Ram Temple.
According to Lakshminarayanan, his family donated the gold-plated Ramcharitmanas to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in April 2024. He alleged that the religious manuscript was later shifted from the temple premises.
Lakshminarayanan further claimed that the Trust's General Secretary, Champat Rai, told him that not every offering made to the temple could be displayed within the shrine.
Questions Earlier Raised Over Missing Silver Donations
The latest allegation comes after opposition leaders and the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) questioned the reported disappearance of silver bars and bricks donated to the Ram Temple.
Among the items highlighted was a 4-kg silver brick donated by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray during the temple's construction. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the matter, rejected speculation that nearly 200 kg of silver bars had been stolen.
SIT Examining Whether Stolen Jewellery Was Melted
The Special Investigation Team investigating the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple is examining whether stolen gold ornaments were melted and converted into gold biscuits to conceal their identity, sources told India Today TV.
Investigators suspect that the accused may have melted the stolen gold and silver jewellery to make it difficult to trace the original ornaments. The possibility is being explored after repeated search operations reportedly failed to recover the missing valuables linked to the alleged theft.
Temple Treasurer Denies Involvement
Amid the controversy, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri issued a detailed two-page statement, asserting that he had no role in the counting of temple donations. He also called for a fair and comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
Describing the alleged embezzlement of temple offerings as an "unbelievable" incident, Giri said it had deeply hurt the sentiments of Lord Ram's devotees. He further noted that reports suggested the alleged theft of donations had been occurring over a considerable period, making the matter especially distressing for worshippers.
Trust Introduces Stricter Donation Counting Measures
Following the controversy, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has implemented significant changes to the temple's donation counting process to strengthen security and improve transparency.
Under the revised system, employees involved in counting donations must undergo a two-level security screening before entering the counting hall. Sources told India Today TV that a mandatory dress code has also been introduced, requiring all counting staff to wear dark blue uniforms without pockets to prevent the concealment of cash or valuables.
Congress Targets BJP Over Alleged Scam
The Congress on Sunday intensified its criticism of the BJP and the RSS over the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations, describing it as both a "ghotala" and a "scam" involving the BJP-RSS ecosystem. The party also questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue.
The alleged embezzlement of temple donations first came to light on June 7. An FIR was subsequently registered on June 25 based on a preliminary report submitted by the Special Investigation Team, which had been constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government.
The SIT continues to investigate whether stolen gold ornaments were melted into gold biscuits to disguise their origin. According to officials, eight individuals associated with the temple's donation counting process have been arrested so far.
