Ram Temple Donation Controversy: Devotees Raise Questions Over Missing 3kg Silver Lamp

The sacred city of Ayodhya is currently witnessing a significant controversy surrounding the donations made to the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, while while millions of devotees across the globe have contributed cash, gold, silver, and jewelry according to their faith, recent reports of theft within the temple premises have sparked a wave of concern and sensational claims. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently probing the matter, but the investigation has primarily focused on the theft of cash offerings. This has left many prominent donors wondering about the whereabouts of the massive quantities of gold and silver ornaments and items they had gifted to Lord Ram Lalla over the past few years.

The Case of the Missing 3kg Silver Lamp

Among those raising serious questions is Anurag Rastogi, the North India Head of the Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association. Rastogi has made a sensational claim regarding a 3kg silver lamp (Akhand Jyoti) that he donated to the temple. According to Rastogi, he offered this lamp on July 7, 2020, during a period when the idol of Ram Lalla was housed in a temporary structure after being moved from the tent. 75 lakh rupees, but with the current market rates, its value has surged to nearly 10 lakh rupees.

Rastogi further detailed that his contribution didn't stop at the lamp. Inspired by the cause, he encouraged other members of his business community to donate as well. Collectively, they gathered more than 40kg of silver in two installments and handed it over to Champat Rai, the General Secretary of the Ram Mandir Trust, and Trustee Anil Mishra. Rastogi noted that while he received a receipt for this donation and saw the lamp being used in the temporary temple for some time, it has since vanished from sight. Following the news of the theft in the offerings, he's now questioning whether these precious items are still in the possession of the Trust or if they've been misappropriated.

The 200kg Silver Brick Donation by the Sindhi Community

The scale of missing donations appears even larger with the claims made by Raju Manwani, the International President of the Sindhi Samaj. Manwani revealed that the Sindhi community from across the world came together to donate 200kg of silver to the Ram Temple. This massive contribution consisted of 200 individual silver bricks. The handover took place on January 26, 2021, in Ayodhya during a formal program that was documented through photographs and video recordings. The silver bricks were personally handed over to Champat Rai.

Manwani expressed his deep shock, stating that he never imagined a theft could occur in the court of Lord Ram, while due to this immense faith, he neither asked for a receipt from the Ram Mandir Trust nor was one provided to him. However, the donors from the Sindhi community are now questioning Manwani about the status and location of their significant offering. The lack of transparency regarding these high-value items has created a sense of unease among the devotees who contributed during the temple's construction phase.

SIT Investigation and the Search for Answers

The SIT investigation is currently underway, but the primary focus remains on the cash stolen from the donation boxes. The broader question of the inventory of jewelry and precious metals remains unanswered. From the time of the Bhoomi Pujan to the present day, countless devotees have offered silver bricks, silver sandals (khadaun), and various ornaments. The current controversy has highlighted a potential gap in the accounting of non-cash donations, while as the investigation continues, the devotees who donated their hard-earned wealth out of pure devotion are demanding a full disclosure of the temple's assets to ensure that their offerings have been utilized as intended and are safe within the temple's treasury.