FIR against eight persons for ‘misappropriation of donations of Ram Temple Trust’ in Ayodhya

An FIR was registered at the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station in Ayodhya on Thursday, June 25, 2026 on charges of embezzlement, fraud, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust. File | Photo credit: ANI

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on Thursday (June 25, 2026) in Ayodhya on a complaint filed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust against eight individuals and unidentified persons, including Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Manish Yadav, Luvkush Mishra, Karunesh Pandey, Rama Shankar Mistavas Avinash Shukla on charges of embezzlement, fraud, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust over missing donations in the Ram Temple Trust.

The case was registered after a preliminary investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a written complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. The case is registered under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 and 3(5).

Reacting to the FIR, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav described it as a flash of injustice and added that the powerful culprits would be protected. “It will be a flash of injustice under BJP rule. The small one will be hanged, the branches will be forgiven. Public says that under the pretext of SIT, all the evidences would be cleared first and it would be decided which big fish will be saved and who will be caught, after that FIR will be filed and report will be filed under SIT. conclusion would be drawn first,” he wrote on X.

Uttar Pradesh Congress unit president Ajay Rai claimed that the FIR was filed only to silence the anger of a common devotee of Lord Ram. He added that the state government is trying to save big people like Champat Rai. “Orders have been issued to register an FIR in the Ayodhya Ram temple theft. But the drivers and petty culprits are named in the FIR. The government is trying to protect the real culprits like Champat Rai Bansal and other members of the Trust who were overseeing the entire donation collection process. Without their permission and the active involvement of many people, such a massive theft and the presence of so many policemen cannot happen,” Mr. Rai said.

Looking for hard action

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International President Alok Kumar on Wednesday (June 24) called for a comprehensive investigation and an FIR into allegations of irregularities in donations collected for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, saying those found guilty should face the strictest legal action.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on June 19 that “truth will prevail” after the SIT completed its probe into allegations of misappropriation of donations to the Ram temple Trust. He also urged political parties to refrain from “baseless comments” until the investigation is over.

Published – 25 Jun 2026 20:21 IST