The Ram Temple Trust says all donations are safe; holds over 30 kg of gold, 1,518 kg of silver | Today’s news
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust currently holds over 30 kg of gold and around 1,518 kg of silver along with thousands of other valuables donated by devotees, its treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri was quoted as saying by PTI on Tuesday. The clarification comes amid a controversy over alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Giri told PTI that all the 2,926 valuables donated to the temple are safe and properly accounted for. The statement came a day after the Trust showed several donated items to the media, including a gold-plated copy of the Ramcharitmanas and a diamond necklace.
Two items that have become the subject of speculation on social media, a silver charan paduka and a silver Kakbhushundi artifact, were also displayed to journalists. According to the Trust, since the dedication of the temple, devotees have donated gold, silver and diamond ornaments, crowns, necklaces, silver bricks and other valuables.
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The Ram Temple Trust houses over 30 kg of gold, around 1,518 kg of silver and thousands of other valuables donated by devotees, including gold and diamond ornaments.
The Trust keeps detailed records of each donation, including the name and date of the donor. Each item is verified annually by an independent auditor and donors receive receipts.
Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri urged individuals with credible evidence of wrongdoing to contact the Special Investigation Team (SIT) instead of spreading unverified allegations.
The trust has decided to tighten its operational and financial systems, appoint a chief executive to oversee operations and accept the resignation of officials involved in the ongoing investigation.
The SIT reported around 70 cases of alleged theft or larceny related to the donation counting process, which were identified through CCTV footage and witness statements.
The trust says every donation is recorded
Giri said each donated item is recorded with details such as the donor’s name, date of donation and other relevant information. Referring to the Kakbhushundi silver artefact donated by Anita Bharadwaj, he said the item, along with others that had sparked speculation online, remained safely in the custody of the Trust.
He said the Trust had received nearly 16.8 kg of gold by March 2024, another 10.4 kg during 2024-25 and about 5 kg in 2025-26, taking its total gold holdings to about 32.3 kg by the end of March 2026.
Regarding silver, Giri said the Trust owns both the donated silver items in their original form and nearly 850 kg of refined silver, obtained after the donated items were melted down and refined under government supervision.
According to PTI, Giri said that each donated item undergoes annual physical verification by an independent accounting firm. Silver sent for refining is processed through the Government Mint, with photographs, weight records and certificates of purity maintained. Each donor is also issued a donation receipt.
He urged anyone with credible evidence of wrongdoing to submit it to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) instead of spreading unverified allegations.
Trust tightens systems amid probe
The trust decided to strengthen its administrative and financial systems on Monday following the controversy. It also decided to appoint a chief executive officer (CEO) to oversee its operations.
Controversy erupted after allegations surfaced that monetary donations and valuable gifts were misappropriated, with some devotees claiming that expensive items, including gold Ramcharitmanas and silver bricks, had gone missing.
The Uttar Pradesh government subsequently set up an SIT, which has so far arrested eight people in connection with the case. The trust also accepted the resignation of general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra while appointing Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary.
