The alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has triggered major developments, with all eight accused named in the FIR now under arrest and senior temple trust officials resigning from their positions. Authorities have said the investigation will continue and anyone found guilty will face strict action.

The First Information Report was registered following recommendations made by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe allegations of irregularities in the handling of donations received at the temple. The complaint was lodged by a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

According to officials, the eight accused were associated with the process of counting cash and valuables offered by devotees at the temple. Senior officials confirmed that all those named in the FIR have been arrested and are currently being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.

Champat Rai and Anil Mishra step down

Amid the growing controversy, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai resigned from his post on moral grounds. Trust member Anil Mishra also submitted his resignation, officials confirmed. Their resignations come as scrutiny over the alleged misappropriation of temple donations intensifies.

Yogi Adityanath says guilty will not be spared

Addressing a public meeting in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said action began immediately after the SIT submitted its report. He asserted that no individual involved in wrongdoing would be exempted from legal action.

The chief minister described Ayodhya as a symbol of faith and said that public sentiments attached to Lord Ram and Sanatan Dharma cannot be compromised. He assured that the government would ensure a fair probe and separate truth from falsehood.

The issue has also sparked political reactions, with opposition leaders questioning the investigation and demanding accountability, while BJP leaders have maintained that strict action will be taken against all those responsible.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and discussed how India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is transforming access to financial services and improving the ease of living for millions.

Queen Máxima, who is also the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, held discussions with the Prime Minister on India’s experience in advancing financial inclusion through technology-driven governance.

Sharing details of the meeting on social media platform X, PM Modi said he was pleased to meet Queen Máxima, describing her as a longstanding global advocate for financial inclusion.

The Prime Minister said India’s Digital Public Infrastructure-led transformation has made financial services more accessible and affordable while empowering people on a large scale.

Focus on financial inclusion and digital empowerment

According to PM Modi, the discussions centred on the role of digital public infrastructure in expanding financial access and improving the quality of life for citizens.

“We discussed how India’s Digital Public Infrastructure-led revolution is making financial services more accessible and affordable, while enhancing ‘Ease of Living’ and empowering people at scale,” the Prime Minister said.

He also reiterated India’s commitment to sharing its experience and best practices in digital public infrastructure and financial inclusion with partner countries across the world.

Queen Máxima is on a visit to India in her capacity as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health. Her visit reflects the shared emphasis on promoting financial inclusion and strengthening financial health through innovative digital solutions.

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure ecosystem, which includes platforms enabling digital identity, payments and secure data sharing, has increasingly been showcased globally as a model for inclusive and scalable digital development.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday criticised the Samajwadi Party’s renewed alliance with the Congress, alleging that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is acting against the political legacy of his father, late Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Speaking on the 51st anniversary of the Emergency, the Chief Minister claimed that Mulayam Singh Yadav had consistently opposed any alliance between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress during his lifetime. He alleged that Akhilesh Yadav’s repeated association with the Congress runs contrary to that position.

Yogi Adityanath said Mulayam Singh had objected whenever the SP considered an alliance with the Congress and accused Akhilesh Yadav of aligning with what he described as the Congress’s “sinking ship”. He further alleged that such political decisions were damaging Mulayam Singh’s legacy.

The remarks come as the Samajwadi Party and the Congress continue their political understanding ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The two parties had also contested previous elections together, including the 2017 state polls.

SP and Congress respond

The Chief Minister’s comments triggered strong reactions from opposition parties.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Anurag Bhadouria defended his party, saying it has consistently worked to protect the Constitution. He alleged that the country is currently witnessing an “undeclared Emergency” and criticised the suspension of MPs and the splitting of opposition parties.

Congress spokesperson Pooja Tripathi also criticised the Uttar Pradesh government, questioning its priorities in the aftermath of the recent coaching centre fire in Lucknow that claimed several lives. She said the state government should focus on issues affecting citizens rather than opposition politics.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, one of the prominent opponents of the Emergency imposed in 1975, had on multiple occasions publicly expressed reservations about alliances between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress.