Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - India’s Ram Temple in Ayodhya is facing a major embezzlement scandal, with allegations that donations collected from devotees were siphoned off by people linked to the temple’s cash-counting process. The controversy has embarrassed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government ahead of crucial state elections, turning a religious symbol into a political liability.

The case began with accusations that money and valuables dropped into donation boxes were being misappropriated instead of properly accounted for, prompting a police investigation and the arrest of eight people. Investigators say serious standard operating procedure violations were uncovered, including lapses in how the donations were handled and monitored. Reports say about ₹79.85 lakh has already been recovered, and the accused include employees and others involved in the temple’s donation-counting system.

The scandal has widened beyond a simple theft allegation because of the political and symbolic importance of the Ram Temple. Opposition leaders have seized on the case to attack the ruling BJP and demand deeper probes into the temple trust’s finances, while trust officials have insisted that the investigation is necessary to establish the truth and protect the temple’s reputation. Some reports also suggest the issue could affect voter sentiment in Uttar Pradesh, where the temple holds enormous emotional and electoral significance.

What should have been a sacred and unifying project has now become a scandal clouded by accusations of greed, weak oversight and political damage. With investigations still underway, the Ram Temple controversy is likely to remain a sensitive issue in the run-up to elections.