Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case sees arrests and Supreme Court oversight

Police in Ayodhya have taken two more suspects into custody in the alleged embezzlement of donations meant for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The accused – retired bank employee Subhash Chandra Srivastava and Ramashankar Mishra – were moved from the district jail for a 14‑hour police remand and are being questioned about cash‑counting irregularities. The investigation, led by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Uttar Pradesh government, has already interrogated six other accused, bringing the total number of arrested individuals to ten.

The Supreme Court has intervened, issuing notices to the centre, the state government and the temple trust and ordering the SIT to submit a status report on its composition and progress. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant clarified that it is not yet assessing the merits of the allegations but will monitor the probe. Meanwhile, religious leaders and pilgrims in Ayodhya say their faith remains intact, with steady crowds visiting the Ram Temple despite the controversy. Ayodhya priest Mahant Raju Das accused the opposition of politicising the issue, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged patience and confidence in the investigation.