Amidst the ongoing investigation into the donations and alleged financial irregularities of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya, major revelations have been made regarding some cases. The in-depth investigation by the SIT formed on the instructions of the Chief Minister has said that three specific claims and news that have been circulating on social media regarding the theft of donations and valuable items received as donations for the Ram Temple have proved to be completely misleading and baseless.
Citing people privy to the investigation, several media reports say that the claims about the disappearance or alleged theft of silver bricks donated by devotee Anurag Rastogi are completely false after scrutiny of government and trust documents. The SIT’s investigation has revealed that every detail of these precious donated bricks is recorded with complete transparency in the pilgrimage site’s official records.
Official records show that the Trust received this donation from Anurag Rastogi in two separate tranches. According to the books of accounts, the Trust first received a total of 38 kilograms of silver on July 21, 2020, and then on July 28, 2020, both of which are duly recorded in the files. Shortly thereafter, on July 29, 2020, the Trust again received 25.576 kilograms of silver bricks as a gift. Sources say that all these silver bricks were melted down according to established security standards and stored in a secure bank locker, where they remain completely safe to this day.
Notably, 200 kg of silver bricks were donated to the Ram Mandir by members of the Singhi community in 2021. After the reports of theft of donations came out, they inquired about the status of their donations. However, now it has been confirmed that the silver is in safe custody. The theft was happening from daily donations, not from cash and jewellery already deposited in banks.
VIDEO | Leh: On Ayodhya Ram Temple donation controversy, Sindhi community representative and businessman Dr V Manvwani, says, "Our Sindhi community donated 200 kilograms of silver bricks to the Ram Temple on 26 January, 2021. These silver bricks were contributed by members of our… pic.twitter.com/4Ngd3uKFW8
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 25, 2026
Similarly, according to sources, another major case has emerged involving Raju Mandwani, president of the Vishwa Sindhi Seva Samaj. Raju Mandwani claimed to the media that in 2021, his organisation had donated eight silver bricks weighing approximately 200 kilograms, weighing 25 kilograms each, to the temple, but he had not received a receipt. Based on this statement, misleading and fabricated reports of the theft of these 200 kilograms of silver bricks began circulating on social media.
After the controversy surfaced, the SIT conducted a thorough investigation and found that not all the claims circulating online regarding the matter are true. The Trust provided the investigation team with a certified list of the temple’s valuables and their disposal, which has dispelled all these claims on social media. This official list clearly states that all eight silver bricks, donated by Raju Mandwani, were sent to the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India to be melted for safety and purity.
The official list related to this entire process bears the signatures of competent officials of the Trust and the Corporation, which is the strongest proof of its authenticity. Page 1, serial number 96, of this special list clearly states that the silver bricks stored in boxes 10 through 17 were melted in accordance with the regulations. This technical examination has proven that this precious metal was always in the legitimate custody of the Trust, and all claims of theft of the bricks are completely false.
A third case involves Mumbai businessman Anil Vishwakarma, who donated a silver necklace and sandals. According to sources, the SIT has found that these donations are still in the trust’s custody.
Despite the safety of the precious metals being confirmed in all three cases, legal proceedings continue to progress regarding the alleged misappropriation of cash from the main donation boxes. According to investigating agency sources, the first FIR in this specific financial embezzlement case involving donation boxes has already been registered based on the preliminary recommendations of the SIT, and several named and unidentified individuals have been implicated.
Based on this FIR, the police and administration took immediate action and detained and arrested eight temple servants and technical staff. Among those arrested are Anukalp Mishra, the alleged mastermind of this entire cash embezzlement, and several other servants, who are currently being questioned by police and SIT teams.
Meanwhile, the Trust’s General Secretary, Champat Rai, and senior trustee, Dr. Anil Mishra, have resigned from their posts on moral grounds.
