Congress leaders demand an independent probe into Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust finances

On Sunday, two senior Congress figures – Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge – penned a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the note they asked, quite plainly, for an independent and comprehensive probe into the controversy swirling around the Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust.

Their concern centres on reports that lakhs of devotees, many of them ordinary citizens, may have had hard‑earned contributions siphoned off. Gandhi and Kharge described the situation as a "betrayal" of faith, and they called the prime minister’s silence on the matter "unacceptable".

According to the letter, the alleged irregularities involve cash, gold and silver offerings that were supposedly handed over to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The opposition leaders want the Centre to examine every financial transaction, and they are pressing for the Trust’s accounts – and any eventual probe findings – to be made public.

The issue came to light in early June, when an FIR was lodged on June 25 after a complaint from within the Trust itself. So far, eight individuals have been arrested and two senior Trust functionaries have stepped down. The controversy has sparked a flurry of media coverage and, unsurprisingly, political heat.

Gandhi and Kharge highlighted that the Trust was set up under Supreme Court directives, with its members appointed by the central government. They warned that anyone found responsible – regardless of rank or political clout – should face accountability.

While the Congress leaders await a response, the broader narrative continues to evolve, with other parties and civil society groups also calling for transparency and a thorough audit of the Trust’s finances.