Zero tolerance for hurting Sanatan: Yogi Adityanath on arrests in Ram temple donation theft case

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the Uttar Pradesh government has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards anyone attempting to exploit Sanatan values and public faith, as he reacted to the arrest of eight people in the embezzlement of donations linked to the Ayodhya Ram Temple.

Addressing the issue publicly, the chief minister said immediate action was initiated after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its findings and reiterated that the government had assured people there would be no compromise on matters related to Ayodhya.

"We had said, ‘Do not worry about Ayodhya.’ As soon as the SIT report was released, action was initiated immediately. Playing with matters of faith is unacceptable. I would also appeal to those attempting to raise this issue today — these are the very people who once denied the existence of Lord Ram," the CM said while addressing a gathering in Deoria.

Yogi added the state had already made its position clear during his June 19 visit to Ayodhya, where he warned against any attempt to misuse public trust or bring disrepute to a place that holds deep religious significance for millions.

He said the SIT report had now paved the way for action and that the administration had moved swiftly following the findings.

Emphasising that faith cannot be treated casually, the chief minister said there would be no tolerance for those who attempt to manipulate religious sentiments or misuse institutions connected with public devotion. He described Ayodhya as a symbol of collective faith and said preserving its dignity and values remained a priority for the government.

YOGI TRAINS GUNS AT OPPOSITION

At the same time, Yogi launched a sharp political attack on opposition parties over their criticism of the developments. Without naming individuals directly, he accused sections of the opposition of trying to politicise the issue despite what he called their historical opposition to the Ram Mandir movement.

"One side used to say that Lord Ram doesn't even exist, meaning these people wanted to deny Ayodhya itself. They kept fighting the case in court continuously, kept fielding armies of lawyers against the construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, and the other side is the one that would wield sticks and fire bullets at those chanting 'Jai Shri Ram,' he said.

"Those who would fire bullets at the mere mention of Lord Ram's name are now saying that there has been tampering with faith".

Taking aim at the Congress, Yogi accused the party of institutionalising corruption and dishonesty and said attempts were being made to distract attention from the investigation.

"Those now questioning us on matters of faith are the same people who, in the past, encouraged unrest during Ram Navami, imposed restrictions on Shri Krishna Janmashtami celebrations, obstructed the Kanwar Yatra and created tensions during Durga Puja," he said.

"Remember, the Congress did not merely indulge in corruption but also weakened the country. The same people who set records in dishonesty and corruption are now casting aspersions on Ayodhya — and that is unacceptable".

Yogi reiterated that the state government remained committed to protecting public trust and ensuring complete transparency in matters connected with religious institutions.

THE RAM MANDIR DONATION PROBE

The remarks came a day after Uttar Pradesh Police arrested all eight people named in the FIR linked to the alleged misappropriation of donations offered by devotees at the Ram Temple.

The case was registered on the complaint of Krishna Mohan, trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, based on recommendations in the preliminary SIT report.

Those arrested include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu.

The FIR also mentions unidentified persons and invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to theft, criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and corruption-related offences.

The SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 after allegations surfaced regarding irregularities in handling temple donations and offerings.

MULTIPLE OPERATIONAL LAPSES

According to sources, the investigation identified multiple operational lapses in the donation management system, including weaknesses in cash handling, employee verification, CCTV monitoring and procedures governing the transfer of offerings from the temple premises to trust offices and banks.

The probe reportedly found that workers involved in counting donation cash were engaged through a private agency but recruited locally, allegedly through recommendations from individuals linked to temple operations. Investigators are also examining alleged irregularities in appointments, movement controls inside the premises and compliance with established protocols.

The SIT has further scrutinised records related to gold, silver and other valuables offered by devotees and examined documentation and inventory practices.

Responding to criticism over the investigation, Yogi targeted opposition parties and accused them of attempting to politicise the issue despite, in his view, having historically opposed the Ram Mandir movement.

The controversy had gained political attention after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the handling of the matter and alleged that only "small fish" would be punished while larger actors escaped scrutiny.

With arrests completed and the probe continuing, attention has now shifted to whether accountability extends beyond operational staff and whether wider structural changes follow within the temple trust’s functioning.