Full Breakdown
Chargesheet Filed in Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Theft Case: Investigation, Findings and Legal Fallout
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 23, 2026, Uttar Pradesh police filed a chargesheet in the Ayodhya district court against eight men accused of siphoning cash and valuables donated to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. The document, submitted before Special Judge Rajat Verma of the Anti-Corruption Court, alleges violations of Sections 316(5), 372, 375, 162, 131A and 132 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and criminal breach of trust.
Background & Context
The controversy began after an FIR on June 25, 2026, following a preliminary report by a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT). A Supreme Court-mandated second SIT was formed on July 13, 2026, headed by Lucknow Range IG Kiran S, with DIG Somen Barma and SSP Gaurav Grover as members. The probe focused on cash counted in the temple’s Pilgrim Facility Centre and its transfer to banks.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 13, 2026 | First SIT constituted. |
| June 25, 2026 | FIR filed; eight individuals arrested. |
| July 13, 2026 | Second SIT established. |
| September 16, 2026 | SIT’s status report, noting 105 unauthorised cash-removal instances, submitted to the Supreme Court. |
| September 23, 2026 | Chargesheet filed. |
| September 25, 2026 (scheduled) | 90-day deadline for filing; failure would trigger default bail. |
| September 18-21, 2026 | Judicial custody of all eight accused extended. |
| September 21, 2026 | UP government reiterated filing deadline. |
Data & Statistics
- 105 unauthorised cash-removal instances captured on CCTV.
- INR79.85 lakh recovered from seven accused; none from Subhash Srivastava.
- 803 valuable articles verified; 86 additional items inspected without receipts.
- ? 944 kg of silver sent for melting.
- Chargesheet length reported variously as ? 60,000–74,000 pages and “thousands of pages.”
Official Statements & Responses
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court the investigation was “substantially concluded” and warned that default bail would follow if the chargesheet were not filed by September 25.
- Kul Shekhar Singh, representing the accused, said the chargesheet had been presented to the court and that the defense had not yet received a copy.
- The Ayodhya Bar Association objected to the bail hearing schedule, insisting the chargesheet be examined first.
Criticism & Opposition
Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh criticised the delay, alleging political protection of senior trust officials and demanding a forensic audit. He questioned why former trust officials such as Champat Rai and Anil Mishra were omitted from the chargesheet.
> “Chanda chori, Aastha dhokha… ‘Dekho o BJP walon, tum ye kaam na karo, ram ka naam badnam na karo!’” — Jairam Ramesh
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Chargesheet size: Sources vary from 7,000 to nearly 70,000 pages.
- Inclusion of trust officials: Several outlets note that former officials Anil Mishra, Champat Rai and Gopal Rao were left out, prompting a Bar Association petition.
- Bail hearing: Bail applications of two accused were deferred; the court later rejected bail for six others, extending custody.
What’s Next
The Supreme Court has directed that the chargesheet be filed on or before September 25, 2026. Once filed, the Additional District Judge will assess its admissibility and schedule a trial. The court may also issue orders on transparency and remedial actions for the temple trust’s donation management.
