'Can Employees Alone Pull Off Such a Big Scam?': Priyanka Gandhi Demands Transparent Probe Into Ram Mandir Donation Row

Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has raised concerns over the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, calling for a transparent investigation into the matter. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), she questioned whether lower-level staff could act independently in an incident of this scale, suggesting potential involvement from more influential figures. Her remarks follow the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate financial irregularities concerning temple offerings.

Priyanka Gandhi questioned the operational logistics behind the alleged fraud, casting doubt on the idea that junior employees could execute the scheme alone. "This question is also crucial: Can mere low-level employees, on their own, turn off CCTV cameras and tamper with thousands of crores in offerings, or is there complicity of some big players behind it?" she stated. 'Don't Test Ram Bhakts': Yogi Adityanath Hits Back at Congress Over Ram Mandir Donation Row (Watch Video).

The Congress leader emphasized the need for a thorough and clear investigation, warning against any potential efforts to obscure the facts. She noted that instead of a "cover-up in the name of investigation," the process must be entirely transparent to ensure that everyone involved is held accountable and receives severe punishment.

Highlighting the emotional and religious dimensions of the issue, Gandhi noted that millions of citizens contribute to the temple out of deep personal faith. She described the alleged misappropriation as a violation of religious trust that has deeply affected devotees across the country. According to her statement, mishandling offerings dedicated to Lord Ram directly undermines the faith and righteousness the deity represents.

The political reaction comes after the Uttar Pradesh government directed the filing of an FIR under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections related to criminal breach of trust and conspiracy. The registered case names individuals including Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinnu Yadav, and Manish Yadav. Champat Rai, Anil Mishra Resign From Ram Mandir Trust Amid Donation Controversy.

Priyanka Gandhi Demands Transparent Ram Mandir Probe

The official probe was initiated after allegations were raised by Pawan Pandey, a former Samajwadi Party MLA from Ayodhya, who claimed that donation discrepancies ranged between Rs 7.5 crore and Rs 27 crore. Following a formal request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the state government formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 14 to formally investigate the financial records and security logs.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2026 09:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).